Sen. Scott Pushes CMS to Buy American Medical Devices, Avoid China-Made Equipment

U.S. Senator Rick Scott, chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, is pressing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to prioritize American-made medical devices and keep patient data stored domestically rather than relying on Chinese-manufactured equipment.

In a letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz released today, Scott argued that federal healthcare spending should align with what he calls "America First policies" and patient privacy protections. He called for CMS to require domestic data storage for medical devices and services, and to avoid purchasing Chinese-made equipment when American alternatives are available.

Scott's push reflects broader concerns he and other lawmakers have raised about national security risks posed by Chinese-linked medical technology. In June, Scott and Senator Dave McCormick called for an FCC investigation into Communist China-linked health wearables, including smartwatches and fitness trackers that collect sensitive biometric data from older Americans. Last month, the Senate Aging Committee held a hearing examining how Chinese-manufactured counterfeit medications and AI-powered deepfakes are being used to target seniors.

The senator has introduced legislation, including the CLEAR LABELS Act co-sponsored with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, to add country-of-origin labeling requirements to prescription drugs and increase transparency in America's pharmaceutical supply chain, which relies heavily on foreign-made generic drugs.