Cosmetic Surgeons Object to Tax on Elective Procedures
The latest health care reform bill unveiled by the Senate includes a 5 percent tax on cosmetic services provided by a medical professional. Now cosmetic surgeons and others in the industry are voicing their opposition to the tax, which could be implemented as early as 2010.
The most widespread objection is that women, the predominant consumers in this industry, will pay the projected 5 billion dollar revenue almost entirely. The tax is “discriminatory” and therefore, “the wrong way to raise money to pay for expanding health care.”
Jonah Shacknai, CEO of Medicis (maker of the popular wrinkle filler Restylane) suggested that lawmakers were allowing certain moral judgements about cosmetic surgery to affect their judgement.
The ASPS rallied members late this week to call upon their local representatives and voice opposition to the bill, calling it “discriminatory, ineffective, and arbitrary.” Referencing ASPS statistics on purchasers of cosmetic services, the society cited the overwhelming female demographic (86% of all procedures) to argue that the tax was discriminatory.
If the tax remains in the healthcare reform bill, it will take effect in 2010.
Follow this link to read more about the elective cosmetic medical tax.
