WASHINGTON (CBS DC/AP) — A new study reveals that nearly 33,000 jobs have been impacted due to the Affordable Care Act’s medical device excise tax.
The report comes from the Advanced Medical Technology Association following an online survey of member companies last year.
“According to the report, the tax has led to employment reductions of approximately 14,000 industry workers and foregone hiring of 19,000 workers,” the study stated. “The total job impact of the tax on industry employment was approximately 33,000.”
Stephen J. Ubl, CEO of AdvaMed, said this tax needs to be repealed.
“During a time when there is bipartisan support for growing high-technology manufacturing jobs, these results should serve as a wake-up call. As a result of the medical device tax, we have seen an unprecedented impact on jobs and key investments in R&D (research and development),” Ubl said. “The findings of the report underscore the need to repeal this tax.”
Unified in their opposition to Obamacare, Republicans have been relentless in focusing on its problems, from complaints of canceled policies to higher insurance premiums and President Barack Obama’s unilateral decision to delay for two years the requirement that small businesses cover employees.
The GOP effort has intensified this election year as Republicans look to capitalize on dissatisfaction with the law, turning voter dismay into November victories. The ill effect of Obamacare is the GOP’s constant refrain.
Nearly 3.3 million Americans have enrolled through the federal and state marketplaces as the federal online site worked out the problems of its disastrous rollout, a recent sign of promise for the 4-year-old law.
A silver lining for Democrats in the recent enrollment numbers is the actual sign-ups exceeding projected totals in New Hampshire, North Carolina, Michigan and Colorado, according to the January figures. Three of those states have Senate Democrats who voted for the law and now face re-election — Kay Hagan in North Carolina, Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire and Mark Udall in Colorado.
In the next eight months before the election, Republicans who call the shots in the House will cast a harsh spotlight on the law through hearings and narrowly focused legislation designed to divide Democrats. The GOP has done it this year with bills requiring the Obama administration to report weekly on how many Americans have signed up for health care coverage and a measure bolting new security requirements on the law.
One bill drew the support of 33 Democrats; the other attracted 67 Democrats who bucked the administration.
Last year, House Republicans voted more than 40 times to repeal, replace or gut the law, and strong GOP opposition to Obamacare precipitated the 16-day partial government shutdown last fall that was a political blow to Republicans.
Since recovered, Republicans say privately they are unlikely to push for full repeal in light of the law’s popular elements, such as insurance for individuals even with an existing condition and allowing children to remain on their parents’ plans until age 26. Also, Republicans have been unable to unify around an alternative to health care plan.
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/02/24/study-33000-jobs-impacted-due-to-obamacares-medical-device-tax/
