News | March 22, 2013

Vote underscores bipartisan support for device tax repeal efforts

March 22, 2013 — The Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA), Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) and the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) applauded the adoption of an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2014 Senate Budget Resolution that expresses support for repeal of the medical device tax. The amendment passed with 79 votes.

"Momentum is clearly growing in Congress to repeal the medical device tax as senators continue to hear from their constituents that the impact is real — the tax is slowing economic growth and costing thousands of jobs," said Gail Rodriguez, executive director of MITA. "MITA encourages Congress to prevent further job loss and protect essential research and development by promptly repealing this harmful tax."

"Bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate have now voted to repeal the device tax. The reasons behind mounting support to repeal the tax are clear: Across the country, this tax is cutting high-quality jobs and investments in tomorrow's treatments and cures at companies large and small. We encourage leaders in Congress and the administration to seize on this momentum and act to repeal this harmful tax," said Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of AdvaMed.

"Every day innovators in this dynamic industry are looking at how to improve the quality of life for patients, and the medical device tax is standing in the way of progress and threatening America's leadership position. While we have more work to do, MDMA applauds this important step towards ensuring that the United States remains the global leader in medical technology innovation," said Mark Leahey, president and CEO of MDMA.

The bipartisan amendment was introduced by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), with co-sponsorship from 21 senators, including Al Franken (D-MN), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Richard Burr (R-NC), Robert Casey (D-PA), Dan Coats (R-IN), John Cornyn (R-TX), William Cowan (D-MA), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Kay Hagan (D-NC), John Hoeven (R-ND), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Rob Portman (R-OH), James Risch (R-ID), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John Thune (R-SD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

The American medical technology industry is responsible for and supports nearly 2 million jobs, creating a growing trade surplus and developing the technology essential to advancing patient care in the United States and around the world. With the implementation of the medical device tax, manufacturers have paid an estimated $388,000,000 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) so far this year, re-allocating funds that could otherwise be directed toward investment in job creation and research and development, the vendor organizations said.

This legislative effort is the most recent since February 2013, when Hatch and Klobuchar introduced the "Medical Device Access and Innovation Protection Act," which included bipartisan co-sponsorship for the first time.


Related Content

News | PET-CT

June 19, 2025 — Building on a collaboration that spans more than three decades, GE HealthCare has renewed its research ...

Time June 19, 2025
arrow
News | Lung Imaging

April, 15, 2025 — Optellum has entered an agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb to leverage AI in early diagnosis and ...

Time April 17, 2025
arrow
News | Pediatric Imaging

April 10, 2025 — Cincinnati Children’s and GE HealthCare will form a strategic research program focused on driving ...

Time April 10, 2025
arrow
News | SPECT Imaging

Feb. 5, 2025 — Serac Healthcare Ltd., a clinical radiopharmaceutical company developing an innovative molecular imaging ...

Time February 05, 2025
arrow
News | Computed Tomography (CT)

Dec. 3, 2024 — During RSNA '24, GE HealthCare announced the 510(k) submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ...

Time December 18, 2024
arrow
News | SPECT Imaging

Dec. 2, 2024 — GE HealthCare has agreed to acquire full ownership of Nihon Medi-Physics Co., Ltd (NMP), by purchasing ...

Time December 05, 2024
arrow
News | Computed Tomography (CT)

At the annual AHRA (American Healthcare Radiology Administrators) conference in Orlando, Florida, Bayer announced an ...

Time August 09, 2024
arrow
Videos | Radiology Business

Find actionable insights to achieve sustainability and savings in radiology in this newest of ITN’s “One on One” video ...

Time July 30, 2024
arrow
News | Radiopharmaceuticals and Tracers

July 24, 2024 — Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited announced that the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ...

Time July 24, 2024
arrow
News | RSNA

July 23, 2024 — Professional registration is open for RSNA 2024, the world’s largest radiology forum. This year’s theme ...

Time July 23, 2024
arrow
Subscribe Now