Cary Facility Promotes Hiring Veterans, Highlights Need for Repeal of Medical Device Tax

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02) released the following statement after her tour of the Siemens Healthcare facility in Cary yesterday:

"Yesterday I was impressed to see the important work taking place at the Siemens healthcare facility in Cary. Siemens has made a priority of hiring our military veterans and I was proud to meet with many of them during yesterday's visit. The men and women of Siemens are producing cutting-edge technology and innovations which are making healthcare treatments and procedures easier and more cost-effective for millions of Americans and their families while also providing enormous economic value to the second district and North Carolina."

"At the same time, this visit highlights the need for the immediate repeal of the medical device tax which is strangling investments in new technologies and preventing job creation. I would like to thank Siemens' CEO Eric Spiegel for welcoming me to this facility and all the employees who are creating value for our economy and saving lives each and every day."

Background on the Medical Device Tax:

Right now, access to innovative quality care in America is threatened by a 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices that was included in the president’s disastrous health care law. Between 2013 and 2022, taxes are slated to increase on device manufacturers by $28.5 billion, a cost that would certainly be passed on to patients in the form of more expensive products and procedures. Tools and services that physicians and nurses utilize to help meet the needs of patients will become more expensive. In fact, instead of increasing affordability and protecting access to care for all Americans, this tax further widens the gap between those who can pay for quality care and those who cannot.

The levy on device manufacturers would inevitably force layoffs across the country. At a time of widespread joblessness, removing barriers to innovation and entrepreneurship are imperative to growing our economy. Those are just the kind of jobs created at medical start-ups, small businesses and corporations. They are the jobs that will not be created or which will be lost if manufacturers have to send even more tax dollars to Washington.

Congresswoman Ellmers is a cosponsor of H.R. 523 - the “Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2013”. This bill would repeal the medical device tax.

# # #

For more information, please visit Congresswoman Ellmers’ website at www.ellmers.house.gov or call (202) 225-4531.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter @RepReneeEllmers