Some prominent members of the Massachusetts med-tech community are coming out in support of a Senate bill to repeal the medical device tax contained in last year’s landmark healthcare reform law.
Boston Scientific Corp. (NSYE:BSX) CEO Ray Elliott said the Natick, Mass.-based medical device giant “supports repeal of the $20 billion tax on medical devices which threatens jobs in Massachusetts and patient access to life-saving technology," according to a prepared statement.
"Repealing this onerous tax would help the US maintain global leadership in the development, manufacturing and export of medical technology,” Elliott wrote.
The 2.3 percent excise tax, which was contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as a way to pay for the healthcare overhaul is set to go into effect in 2013. On Jan. 25., Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) introduced the "Medical Device Access and Innovation Protection Act" (PDF) to repeal the “job-killing tax on medical devices.”
Sens. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Dr. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) co-sponsored the bill.
Elliott also took a moment to praise the Bay State’s junior senator.
“Sen. Brown recognizes that this jewel of the American economy should be bolstered during this time of economic rebound, and this bill is an important step in doing so,” Elliott said. “Scott Brown has been a strong leader in the U.S. Senate for protecting jobs."
Mass. Medical Device Industry Council president Tom Sommer also voiced support of the repeal.
“MassMEDIC today applauds the introduction of legislation by Sen. Scott Brown that would eliminate the tax on medical devices due to go into effect in 2013,” Sommer wrote. “The repeal of the medical device tax will save jobs in Massachusetts and protect the state’s position as a hub for medical technology development and production.”
