Repeal of a tax on medical device manufacturers continues to be mentioned as a possible negotiation item in bigger budget battles, but elimination of the tax may have different effects than supporters realize.
Getting rid of the device tax is not expected to affect implementation of the health care law (PL 111-148, PL 111-152), which could disappoint Republicans who want to hobble the overhaul. But there is also a chance that repealing the device tax could bolster the case for scrapping other provisions of the overhaul, as other industry stakeholders press for similar relief.