Could medical device tax repeal ride along on bigger bill?

Although it's unlikely that the lame-duck U.S. Congress will approve a repeal of the medical device tax this year, but repeal of the 2.3% medtech tax could ride along if key Senate Democrats go along.

Could medical device tax repeal ride along on bigger bill?

Although it's unlikely that the lame-duck U.S. Congress will approve a repeal of the medical device tax this year, but repeal of the 2.3% medtech tax could ride along if key Senate Democrats go along.

Opponents of a looming 2.3% tax on all U.S. medical device sales aren't likely to see it repealed this year [1], despite the medtech industry's hopes. But repeal could ride on the coat-tails of a much larger bill, if the levy's opponents can persuade enough Democrats to go along.

The 113th Congress is likely to take up at least 2 major pieces of legislation next year, as the deadline on the $5 trillion "fiscal cliff" approaches. Apart from avoiding a fall off the cliff, Congress could also take a stab at tax reform in 2013.

In this scenario, much depends on the outcome of the November elections in 9 key Senate races: