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Michigan Attorney General calls on congress to regulate cost of medical supplies during outbreak

davidderiso

The Michigan Attorney General is calling on Congress to regulate medical equipment prices during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Previously, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has said a lack of federal oversight has led to states bidding against one another for ventilators and personal protective equipment, driving up costs.

Ryan Jarvi is a Spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office. He said congressional oversight could help control those prices.

“What AG Nessel and these other attorneys general are trying to do is have congress step in and temporarily fix the prices of this medical equipment that is desperately needed.”

The concern, according to Jarvi, is that suppliers could make a profit off of critical healthcare supplies in the midst of a crisis.

“Instead of working together and trying to regulate these prices the healthcare industry could be making unjust profits from these bidding wars, basically.”

Jarvi said it wouldn’t be the first time congress has taken this step. He pointed to the Emergency Price Control Act of 1942 as setting precedent.

Nessel’s letter to congress was signed by 12 other attorneys general.