MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) reanimated his inquiry into an Illinois university hospital and a surgeon-inventor who used his device there, following reports from an erstwhile whistleblower that claimed she was fired for providing evidence to federal investigators and for challenging the university’s star surgeon.
U.S. Senate
Camp’s tax reform bid would repeal medical device tax
A comprehensive tax reform plan put together by Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) would do away with the medical device tax contained in Obamacare, but the package appears to be a dead letter in Washington after Republican leaders cast doubt on its chances for a vote this year.
Camp, chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, said it’s high time the U.S. overhauled its tax code, which hasn’t seen a major revision since 1986.
Medical device tax: Medtech turns its lonely eyes to Ron Wyden
With Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on the road to China, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is slated to take over the 2nd-most-powerful post in the U.S. Senate.
The senior senator from Oregon is considered to be a pragmatic dealmaker, winning praise from both sides of the aisle. That could augur well for proponents of repealing the 2.3% medical device tax enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act.
Senate bill would strip FDA’s oversight of low-risk HIT
A new bill introduced this week by a bipartisan trio of U.S. senators would remove low-risk health information technology from the FDA’s purview – and from the 2.3% medical device tax imposed under the Affordable Care Act.
Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Angus King (D-Maine) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) co-sponsored the Preventing Regulatory Overreach to Enhance Care Technology (PROTECT) Act, introducing the measure on the Senate floor Feb. 10.
Obamacare architect Baucus spends last week in the Senate
This week marks Sen. Max Baucus’ (D-Mont.) last in the Senate as he embarks on a new role as U.S. ambassador to China, which may be good news for opponents of the medical device tax.
Senator cites ‘serious concerns,’ demands National Quality Forum records
by Marshall Allen, ProPublica
An influential senator is demanding copies of contracts and conflict-of-interest policies from the National Quality Forum after allegations that kickbacks were paid to influence its patient safety guidelines.
Is Sen Majority Leader Reid open to medtech tax repeal?
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters this week that he’s looking for a few good proposals to alter the Affordable Care Act, giving fellow Senate Democrats a chance to advance bills that may win them some favor during an mid-term elections.
Sen. Hatch slams the ‘stupid’ medtech tax | MassDevice.com On Call
MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) had some harsh words for the medical device tax and its role in helping pay for the Affordable Care Act, calling the levy little more than a thin attempt to conceal the deep costs of healthcare reform.
The tax is slated to raise about $30 billion over the course of 10 years through a 2.3% tax on U.S. sales of medical devices, a cost that Hatch said the medtech industry can hardly bear.
Medtech tax repeal among Sen. Coats’ top priorities | MassDevice.com On Call
MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) called on fellow lawmakers to repeal the medical device tax, saying that striking the levy is among his top legislative priorities for the year.
Coats has aligned himself with repeal efforts in the past, calling the tax a job-killer and an unfair burden on the 300 medical device makers operating in his state which employ around 20,000 people and pay wages more than 40% higher than the state average
Senate OKs $1T omnibus budget deal, restoring FDA user fees
The U.S. Senate yesterday approved an omnibus, $1.012 trillion budget bill that includes the restoration of some $85 million in user fees from medical device and pharmaceutical companies that was held in abeyance by sequestration.
President Barack Obama, who has until midnight tomorrow to sign the measure into law, is expected to quickly add his signature after the 72-26 vote in the Upper Chamber.
Senate medtech tax repeal gains another sponsor
A Senate bill to repeal the medical device tax gained 1 more supporter this month with Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) lending his name to the effort, bringing total sponsors to 38.
Kirk this week signed his support for Senate bill 232, the "Medical Device Access & Innovation Protection Act," which aims to eliminate the 2.3% medtech sales tax that was enacted by the Affordable Care Act.