03/29/13 In recognition of the three-year anniversary of the President’s Health Care Law last Satruday, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02) visited Complexus Medical to hear about the impact of Obamacare on Michiana businesses.
“The medical device tax is just one example of bad policy to burden innovators, eliminate good-paying jobs, and endanger quality care. Northern Indiana is the global leader of the orthopedic industry, but Washington red tape, higher premiums, and onerous mandates are compromising options for our seniors, veterans, and American families.”
The President’s Health Care law contains an onerous 2.3 percent medical device tax, which went into effect on January 1, 2013. Some Indiana companies have already warned patients of increasing prices and postponed company expansion. Medical device manufacturers provide approximately 20,000 jobs in Indiana, with over 50,000 additional jobs directly related to the medical technology industry.
“The taxes and regulations streaming out of Washington will stifle innovation for customers and cause a ripple effect on my business, jeopardizing my companies’ growth, and forcing the OEM’s in the medical device industry to consider oversea supply chains,” said Dave Behrens, President of Complexus Medical.
Complexus Medical, formally known as F&F Specialties, is one of many emerging leaders in orthopedic instrument manufacturing in the Second District. Their high-quality medical components symbolize a new generation of improved health care technology that could be significantly diminished if government regulations continue to levy taxes and derail economic growth.
“I am pleased the Senate has recently joined House efforts to repeal the medical device tax. Moving forward, I will continue to support commonsense reforms to put patient care first and improve our health care system,” said Walorski.
Congresswoman Walorski is an original co-sponsor of the Protect Medical Innovation Act (H.R. 523) to eliminate the 2.3 percent tax on the sale of medical devices.
