Miller-Meeks, Murphy, Van Orden Send Letter to VA Expressing Concern with the EPA’s Rule on Ethylene Oxide When Sterilizing Medical Devices

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (IA-01), Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03), and Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) penned a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) expressing concern with the potential risk to veterans’ health care posed by two proposed regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related to ethylene oxide (EtO), a gas used to sterilize nearly half of all medical devices, many of which could not be sterilized by any other available method.

In the letter the lawmakers raised concerns about the regulations and discussed the massive interruption in patient care and access: “This could have a significant impact on the ability of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to procure a substantial number of sterile medical devices. This is because the United States lacks sufficient sterilization capacity to address any surge in demand likely to be caused by facilities shutting down for upgrades or being closed permanently due to the cost of compliance with stringent new standards.”

On October 18, Miller-Meeks spoke during the House Energy and Commerce Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee Hearing titled, “Exposing EPA Efforts to Limit Chemicals Needed for Life-Saving Medical Devices and Other Essential Products” about the negative impacts of the EPA’s sterilization regulations on patient access, Iowa’s First Congressional District, and the medical device field.

Read the full text of the letter here.

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