The office of U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH) released a statement on Thursday, following the vote to eliminate a 2.3 percent tax on medical devices within the Affordable Care Act (AFA).
Tiberi believes that the House’s vote is a step forward for medical innovation.
“Today’s vote to repeal Obamacare’s medical device tax is an encouraging sign for medical innovators that have shouldered the burden of this excise tax,” Tiberi said. “The tax on revenue has caused job losses, price increases and reduced access to care in Ohio and across the nation. It’s my hope the Senate will act quickly to pass this important measure.”
The measure that would repeal the portion of the AFA with a majority of 280 to 140 consisting of mostly republicans and 46 democrats also voted for the measure. The House has attempted to void the AFA and specific portions of the law 50 times since the House majority shifted to the Republican Party.
A CBS report states that democratic supporters of the measure hailed from states that have many medical devices are manufactured and developed.
They also report that the house vote would meet the requirement of the two-thirds margin to override a veto from President Barack Obama.