WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Ander Crenshaw today (6/7) stood on the side of affordable health care and a strong economy with his vote for the Health Care
Cost Reduction Act of 2012 (H.R. 436)– legislation that repeals a 2.3 percent excise tax on the makers of medical devices and repeals a ban on using health care savings accounts for over-the-counter medications.  The tax and ban are both contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – the Administration’s new health care
law.

H.R. 436 passed the House by a vote of 270-146 and now moves to the United States Senate for consideration.

“All Americans deserve access to affordable, comprehensive health care, but the
Obama Administration has not lived up to that billing,” said Crenshaw. “Instead, the President’s policies have failed and are making the economy worse. That’s why I voted Thursday to prevent the implementation of two harmful provisions in ObamaCare.”

“Taxes hurt the economy and kill jobs - always have, always will,” Crenshaw continued.  “The ill-conceived medical device tax would certainly bring layoffs at companies across the nation, including 528 medical device manufacturers in Florida that employ more than 20,000 individuals.  Price hikes on everything from replacement joints  to life-saving medical imaging equipment would be another end result and a wrong one at that.”

 “Additionally, Congress needs to help create flexibility for patients, not take it away,” said Crenshaw. “In this tight economy, we need to be doing everything it can to create health care options so individuals and families can save for and afford health care costs. Allowing over-the-counter medications to remain covered by medical savings accounts
helps achieve that goal.”

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