A bipartisan Senate duo proposed a novel amendment that could help off-set some of the cost of repealing the 2.3% medical device sales tax.
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) offered a non-binding amendment that would establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund, which is to be offered alongside the Senate budget resolution that’s already under negotiations.
The measure could represent an important step forward for device tax repeal efforts, which have been stymied by the lack of a pay-for to make up for the $30 billion the tax is slated to generate in federal revenue over the course of about 10 years.
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.
The Medical Device Manufacturers Assn. issued a statement to its membership today, asking that CEOs immediately contact their local Senators’ offices in a show of support.
"The window for a vote on this amendment is time sensitive so immediate action is needed," according to the MDMA notice.