MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Opponents of the medical device tax notched an important victory when the Senate voted 79-20 last week to strike the 2.3% levy, but repeal efforts have a long way to go.
"We need to look at where we can replace the revenue from," Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) told the Wall Street Journal. Shaheen was 1 of 34 Democrats who voted to repeal the tax, which is expected to generate about $30 billion in revenue over 10 years.
The issue of a so-called "pay-for" to make up for the lost revenue the medical device tax is projected to generate has been a sticking point for many Democrats.
The last pay-for, proposed in June 2012 by GOP leaders ahead of a House vote, aimed to take a stronger hand in recouping over-paid health insurance tax credits granted to families. The measure was met with much consternation from Democrats, many of whom said they would have supported a device tax repeal bill if the cost didn’t fall on families.
Other pay-for proposals floated by lawmakers seek to make up for the lost revenue by cutting tax breaks for big oil and gas companies.
A low-cost "cooling cure" for infants
Johns Hopkins researchers developed a $40-per-unit device they’re calling the Cooling Cure, which could help oxygen-deprived babies avoid brain damage in the absence of modern hospital equipment.
Read more
Women-only knee implants may not make a difference
Gender-specific knee implants designed specifically for women may not improve outcomes in total knee replacement patients, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
Read more
When text messages signal a stroke
Doctors have uncovered at least 2 cases of what they’re calling "dystextia," in which a patient presented with no discernible signs of stroke aside from the inability to form a cohesive text message.
Read more