Class I and II Hearing Aids Exempted After HIA-led Lobbying Effort.
The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) and others are aggressively lobbying Congress to forestall the January 1 implementation of a 2.3% tax on gross medical device sales. The Medical Device Tax was enacted in 2010 as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA); however, thanks to the efforts of Congressional hearing health champions and an effective lobbying campaign organized by HIA with the help of hearing consumer and professional groups, both FDA Class I and II hearing aids are specifically exempted from the tax. The only other excluded devices are those sold at “retail” as well as eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), leading champion of the Hearing Aid Tax Credit, organized much of the opposition to a hearing aid tax with support from HIA and others. In addition, every Representative who attended an HIA-sponsored local AG Bell/HLAA/IHS event since 2007 in support of the tax credit championed a hearing aid tax exclusion, including Reps Shelley Berkley (D-NV); Dave Camp (R-MI); Ron Kind (D-WI); Allyson Schwartz (D-PA); Mike Thompson (D-CA); Dina Titus (D-NV); and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). This exemption dramatically demonstrates the effectiveness of hearing health organizations working together both in Washington and across the country. Assuming that the tax goes into effect as anticipated, the exemption will prevent the imposition of an estimated $43 million annual tax on hearing aids.
