Subject: H.R. 2207, the Protect Medical Innovation Act
Dear Reps. Kind, Walorski, Peters and Hudson,
On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological
Surgeons (CNS), we are pleased to endorse H.R. 2207, the Protect Medical Innovation Act. Neurosurgery is a
medical specialty that is highly dependent on advances in medical technology. As such, repealing the medical
device tax is among neurosurgery’s top legislative priorities.
Since its inception, the AANS and the CNS have long called for the repeal of the 2.3 percent medical device
excise tax due to our concerns that the tax will adversely affect medical innovation and patient care. Because of
medical technology, patients are living longer, healthier and more productive lives. Over the past three decades,
rapid technological advances have helped increase life expectancy in the U.S., rates for major diseases have
been reduced significantly, and America continues to be a leader in the development of new therapies and tools
for treating deadly or debilitating neurologic conditions such as stroke, degenerative spine disease, brain
aneurysms, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s Disease, spinal cord injury, brain tumors and
epilepsy.
Furthermore, it makes economic sense to repeal the medical device tax permanently. For example, according to
a recent report, as many as 195,000 jobs may be lost due to the tax, either through layoffs or forgone jobs that
would have been created.
Clearly, our health care system needs innovation to improve patient care and save lives. Unfortunately, this tax
stifles innovation and reduces patient access to new lifesaving technologies. We, therefore, look forward to
working with you to develop permanent policy solutions that better support medical innovation and increase
treatment options for our patients.
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