Representatives from Pittsburgh businesses told a senior federal government official they’re concerned about the Medical Device Excise Tax and other aspects of the Affordable Care Act during a meeting Wednesday at thePittsburgh Technology Council’s offices.
Companies said they’re feeling squeezed by the excise tax because it taxes revenues instead of profits, which is particularly difficult on startups who typically have less funding than a more-established company, said Sol Ross, director of private sector engagement at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Ross said the businesspeople were also concerned about the administrative burden of the Sunshine Act provision of the ACA, which many would like to see either relaxed or repealed as it creates more administrative work.
Cardiac Assist, Iagnosis, Promethian Life Sciences, TMG Electronics, UPMC, Pennsylvania Bio, SDLC Partners and Thermo Fisher Scientific all participated in the roundtable. Ned Holland, assistant secretary for administration for the Department of Health and Human Services, also participated.
Business Forward, an organization that focuses on connecting government officials with small businesses across the country, worked with the Pittsburgh Tech Council to bring Ross and Holland to Pittsburgh for the discussion. The Washington, D.C.-based group set the conversation topics for the meeting.
