The Right Scan Right Time patient and survivor community network of the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) met with Senators on Capitol Hill last week urging for permanent repeal of the medical device tax, according to a MITA news release published Dec. 7.
Patient advocates from across the country traveled to Washington, D.C. to discuss with lawmakers how repealing the 2.3% excise tax on medical technology will improve patient health, propel new advances in medical imaging technology and promote innovation in the industry that employs over two million Americans.
Patient leaders are hopeful their concerns will be recognized, and that Congress will repeal the tax before the end of the year, according to the release.
The tax, which went into effect in 2013 as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) before being suspended in 2016, had previously been delayed twice and was not set to take effect until 2020. MITA and other parties have continually pressed Congress to recognize the strain the device tax has put on the medical device industry.
In July, MITA applauded the House for passing, with strong bipartisan support, the Protect Medical Innovation Act (H.R. 184) as a substantial effort to permanently repeal the tax. However, the organization and others are waiting for the Senate to do the same.
The tax also gained consistent criticism from research institutes and academic institutions, which have revealed a significant decrease in educational funding for research and development since the tax was implemented and that the tax violates sound tax principles of the healthcare industry.
Other research has shown that Congress overestimated their anticipated revenue from the tax and instead ended up collecting $2.1 billion below estimates between 2013 and 2015.
A recent graduate from Dominican University (IL) with a bachelor’s in journalism, Melissa joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering all aspects of health imaging. She’s a fan of singing and playing guitar, elephants, a good cup of tea, and her golden retriever Cooper.