Twelve U.S. governors are urging congressional leaders to repeal the medical device tax before the end of the year.
In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), the governors detailed why the tax is detrimental.
"The medical device tax is a 2.3% excise tax on the value of domestically sold medical devices, which results in increased prices for consumers, lowers job opportunities, and [decreases] investment in the industry," the letter said.
The House passed a bill to repeal the tax in July, but a similar bill has remained stalled in the Senate.
The following governors signed the letter:
- Greg Abbott (R-TX)
- Matt Bevin (R-KY)
- Phil Bryant (R-MS)
- Jeff Coyler (R-KS)
- Gary Herbert (R-UT)
- Paul LePage (R-ME)
- Henry McMaster (R-SC)
- Kim Reynolds (R-IA)
- Pete Ricketts (R-NE)
- Rick Scott (R-FL)
- Christopher Sununu (R-NH)
- Scott Walker (R-WI)
"As leaders, it is vital that we seize on opportunities to inject free-market principles into our healthcare system, which will not only improve it but bring down premiums and stop the unsustainable spending," the governors concluded.
