It’s just shy of a year since the Organized Dentistry Coalition sent a letter to sponsors of the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2017, H.R. 184 in the House and S. 108 in the Senate, expressing its support for the bill, which would repeal the excise tax on medical device manufacturers and importers.

As reported by ADA News last February:

“The dental manufacturing industry estimates that the medical device excise tax ‘will increase the cost of dental care by over $160 million annually resulting in harm to our patients and an increase in the overall cost of health care,’ the coalition wrote.

Since good oral health is “an essential part of overall health,” the coalition said it believes that an increase in oral health care costs could also make health care less affordable and deter some patients from seeking dental care.”

What’s happening now?

Today, the Dental Trade Alliance @DTALegislative issued a Legislative Action Alert imploring those in the dental industry to reach out to elected officials prior to Friday to address the medical device tax.

“The Congress must act before January 19, 2018, when the next deadline will come for funding the government to operate. Now is the time to reach out to your elected officials to address the medical device tax. While the device tax was suspended for two years, it was reinstated on January 1st. It is critical that Congress take action on the tax before the first payments are due the end of January.

If you have not already done so, please take time to contact your elected officials now…Visit www.congress.gov to identify your Members of Congress and their email addresses.”

The Dental Trade Alliance offered the text below as a “cut and paste” option to send as e-mail to government representatives.

Sample letter crafted by Patrick Cooney, The Federal Group, Inc.
Legislative Representative, Dental Trade Alliance:

As a member of the Dental Trade Alliance, I am writing to urge repeal of the medical device excise tax because it harms job creation, deters innovation and impedes economic growth. Please urge leaders in Congress to address this issue as part of legislation under consideration to fund the government for the rest of this fiscal year.

The Dental Trade Alliance is a strong supporter of the Medical Device Access and Innovation Protection Act (S.108) introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch in the Senate, and the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2017 (H.R.184) introduced by Rep. Erik Paulsen in the House of Representatives.

In 2015, Congress suspended the tax for two years. It is clear that broad bipartisan support now exists for repealing the medical device excise tax. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,