The medical device industry is negotiating with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus to reduce billions of dollars in fees that the industry would face under the measure, the Wall Street Journal reports. The proposal calls medical device makers to pay up to $40 billion in taxes over 10 years to help pay for US health-care reform.
Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), a Washington-based medical technology association, is asking Max Baucus to shave the fee on the industry from $40 billion to $15 billion over 10 years, according to industry and congressional officials. Congressional aides say that offer is too low.
The Senate Finance Committee expected to vote on its health bill as early as on October 6, 2009.