Baucus Introduces New $856 Billion Health Care Reform Bill, Including Fees For Devicemakers

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced new health care reform legislation which would cost $856 billion and does not include a public insurance option. The reform bill includes $4 billion in annual fees to the medical device industry. This would raise $40 billion over 10 years to support the overhaul and would be apportioned to companies by market share.

On September 15, 2009, The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) sent a letter to Baucus and Senator Charles Grassley to express their opposition to the proposed $4 billion tax on medical device and diagnostics products currently being considered by the Senate Finance Committee as part of broader health reform legislation.