Representatives in the U.S. House are set to top last year’s vote to repeal the 2.3% medical device excise tax.
The "Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2013," co-sponsored by Reps. Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.) and Ron Kind (D-Wis.), has garnered 259 signatures, according to the Library of Congress’ THOMAS database. Rep. Roger Williams (R-Tex.) is the latest lawmaker to add his name to the list, having signed on this week.
That list is expected to grow by at least 2 more lawmakers, according to J.C. Scott, SVP, government affairs for AdvaMed, who appeared with Paulsen on a conference call Thursday.
"We’ve done a good job convincing the hill," Scott said, adding that 261 would be a "high water mark" for repeal.
The House passed a repeal bill last year with a 242-173 vote. However, that was never taken up in the Senate.
Paulsen re-introduced the repeal legislation Feb. 6 with Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.). A companion bill in the upper chamber, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), has 35 co-sponsors.
The Minnesota lawmaker stressed the importance of maintaining momentum in the repeal fight, especially in the Senate, which voted 79-20 in favor of a bipartisan amendment that would repeal the medical device tax in March.
"I’m glad to see the Senate has focused on this issue," Paulsen said. "Seventy nine [Senators] is nothing to scoff at."
He added that it was now up to the rank-and-file members of the Upper Chamber to push leadership for a vote on the issue.
