Bi-partisan bill in the House of Representatives to repeal the medical device tax has 259 co-sponsors, ensuring an overwhelming victory when the bill comes to a vote
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
