Within the last year, numerous state legislatures have proposed bills to tax medical procedures, such as cosmetic surgery, or certain FDA-approved drugs as a way to solve their state revenue problems or fund new programs.

Citizens Against Unfair Health Care Taxes believes these proposals are wrong and will lead to a slippery slope of additional health care taxes as state legislators may look to tax other medical procedures, medications and services to try to fund programs that the state cannot afford.

Citizens Against Unfair Health Care Taxes is concerned that state bureaucrats-not doctors and patients-will be making the medical decisions about what should be taxed, when and how. This type of specialty taxation sets a dangerous precedent and ignores the grey area between what is considered "medically necessary" and what is considered "cosmetic." We believe doctors, not bureaucrats, should make these decisions.

NEW JERSEY: THE TAX DOESN'T WORK
These type of new taxes are also risky revenue schemes as proven by the tax on cosmetic surgery that was enacted in New Jersey in 2004. Despite promises that the New Jersey tax of 6 percent would reimburse hospitals for charity work, to date the tax has only reimbursed about 25 percent ($6.8 million) of the total amount needed--a shortfall of nearly 75 percent. This example shows that patients will avoid this tax by visiting doctors in neighboring states or forgoing procedures, leading to broken promises for new state programs and business losses for state doctors.

In fact, New Jersey Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, who first introduced the tax legislation, told The New York Times that "he's inclined to repeal because 'economically, it hasn't made sense.'"

FIGHT BACK: SAY "NO" TO HIGHER HEALTH CARE COSTS
To get involved and help stop these proposed taxes, please visit a state chapter link and sign a petition, submit a letter or learn more about getting involved.

Together, Citizens Against Unfair Health Care Taxes can stop state bureaucrats from trying to fix the revenue problems they created by increasing individual health care costs even more.