Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
White House Issues Veto Threat Over Bill To Repeal Medical Device Tax
President Obama鈥檚 advisers will tell him to veto a law sponsored by Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., that repeals a sales tax on medical devices. The White House made the announcement late Monday afternoon. It reaffirms a stance Obama took earlier when the device industry lobbied extensively to kill the levy. (Spencer, 6/15)
House Republicans are poised to offset the cost of repealing a Medicare cost-cutting board created by the 2010 health care law by tapping into a fund authorized by the law to promote preventive care and public health programs, in a move that would sap the effort of much of its Democratic support. The House Rules Committee will set up floor consideration of a repeal bill and a separate effort to scrap a 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices at a markup Monday evening. Both measures have bipartisan support and are part of GOP efforts to take aim at unpopular provisions in the 2010 overhaul. The cost of the device tax repeal is not expected to be offset. (Attias, 6/15)