On April 2, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order imposing 100% tariffs on patented brand-name pharmaceuticals. The order explicitly exempted generics, orphan drugs, plasma-derived therapies, cell and gene therapies, and specialty medications for rare diseases.

Seven days later, on April 9, country-specific tariffs on medical devices took effect under Section 232 authority. There are no exemptions.

If your child depends on a specialty medication for a rare disease, there's protection. If they depend on a power wheelchair, an AAC communication device, or a CPAP machine, there isn't.

What Equipment Is Affected

The Section 232 medical device tariffs apply to a universal 10% baseline, with higher country-specific rates on major sourcing nations effective April 9. Common assistive technology and durable medical equipment categories heavily dependent on imports include:

• Power wheelchairs and mobility scooters
• Manual wheelchairs and lightweight frames
• AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) devices
• Hearing aids and cochlear implants
• Orthotics, prosthetics, and custom-molded bracing
• CPAP and BiPAP respiratory equipment
• Home medical equipment (lifts, beds, monitoring devices)

Most of these categories source manufacturing from China and Asia-Pacific regions, where country-specific tariffs are higher than the 10% baseline.

Why Devices Didn't Get the Pharmaceutical Exemptions

The pharmaceutical tariffs signed April 2 used narrow product categories to exempt generics, orphan drugs, and specialty/rare disease medications. That carve-out reflects lobbying from patient advocacy groups and pharmaceutical trade associations who argued that tariffs on life-sustaining medications would directly harm vulnerable populations.

Medical device tariffs, imposed under Section 232 national security authority, followed a different path. AdvaMed (the medical device industry trade group), the American Dental Association, and America's Essential Hospitals sent a letter to the White House on April 1 requesting device exemptions similar to the pharmaceutical carve-outs. None have been granted.

The Section 232 investigation into medical devices has been ongoing since September 2025, but no exemptions for disability-specific equipment have been announced.

The DMEPOS Moratorium Compounds Supply Pressure

On February 25, 2026, CMS implemented a six-month moratorium on new Medicare DME supplier enrollment. The ban halts new suppliers from entering the market through August 2026, reducing competition at the same time tariffs are increasing costs.

Fewer suppliers means less negotiating power for families trying to shop around. If your usual DME provider raises prices or faces supply delays, finding an alternative Medicare-enrolled supplier during the moratorium is harder.

What This Means for Insurance Reimbursement

Insurance reimbursement rates for durable medical equipment are typically set in advance and don't automatically adjust for tariff-driven cost increases. If a power wheelchair that previously cost a supplier $4,000 now costs $4,400 due to tariffs, the insurer may still reimburse at the $4,000 rate.

That gap can show up in three ways:

1. Out-of-pocket increases. Your share of the cost goes up because the total price increased but the reimbursement rate didn't.
2. Supplier refusal. Some suppliers stop accepting insurance for certain equipment if reimbursement no longer covers their costs.
3. Longer lead times. Suppliers delay orders while waiting for inventory purchased before the tariff increase, creating backlogs.

If you're planning to order or replace mobility equipment, AAC devices, or home medical equipment in the next six months, contact your supplier now to ask about pricing and lead times.

What Families Can Do Now

Contact Your DME Supplier

Call your supplier and ask three questions:

1. Has pricing changed for the equipment your child uses?
2. Are there lead time delays for orders placed now versus orders placed in March?
3. If you're on a waitlist for equipment (wheelchairs, custom orthotics), has the estimated delivery window changed?

Document the answers. If you're told pricing has increased or delivery timelines have extended, ask for written confirmation.

Document Medical Necessity

If you anticipate needing new or replacement equipment in the next 12 months, start the insurance pre-authorization process now. Tariff-driven cost increases don't change medical necessity, but earlier approval gives you more time to navigate supplier delays or appeals if coverage is denied.

For equipment that requires custom fitting (wheelchairs, orthotics, AAC devices with specialized mounting), schedule evaluations and fittings as soon as possible. Lead times for custom work have extended in categories dependent on imported components.

Track the AdvaMed Exemption Petition

AdvaMed's April 1 letter requesting medical device tariff exemptions has not been granted, but industry groups continue lobbying for carve-outs. The petition specifically referenced disability-related medical equipment as a category that should receive protection similar to pharmaceutical exemptions.

You can follow AdvaMed's policy updates at advamed.org and search for "Section 232" or "tariffs" to track whether exemptions are granted.

Contact Congress

If tariff-driven cost increases are affecting your family's access to medically necessary equipment, contact your representative and senators. Specific, documented impacts carry more weight than general concerns.

Include:

• What equipment your child depends on
• How pricing or availability has changed since April 9
• Whether insurance reimbursement is covering the new costs
• How delays or cost increases are affecting your child's care

Congressional offices track constituent feedback on policy impacts. Multiple reports of access problems can prompt legislative action or exemption requests.

What to Watch

The Supreme Court struck down the original IEEPA-based tariffs on February 20, 2026, but Section 232 is a separate statutory authority under the Trade Expansion Act. The February ruling does not affect Section 232 tariffs.

If you previously read that tariffs on medical equipment were struck down, that referred to the IEEPA tariffs. Section 232 tariffs are legally distinct and remain in effect.

Watch for:

• AdvaMed exemption announcements. If medical device exemptions are granted, they'll be published as amendments to the Section 232 order. Subscribe to AdvaMed's policy alerts or check their site weekly.
• CMS DMEPOS moratorium end date. The ban on new supplier enrollment expires August 25, 2026, unless extended. When it lifts, new suppliers may enter the market, increasing competition.
• Insurance reimbursement rate adjustments. Some insurers adjust DME reimbursement rates quarterly. If tariff costs are sustained, rate updates may follow in Q3 2026.

If your child's next wheelchair evaluation, AAC device trial, or equipment replacement is scheduled for later this year, don't assume pricing and timelines will match what you experienced before April 9. Contact your supplier early, document everything, and build in extra lead time.

For families navigating insurance denials for power wheelchairs or AAC device funding, tariff-driven cost increases add another layer to an already complex process. Start early, ask direct questions, and keep records of every pricing or timeline change your supplier reports.