• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

Bill introduced to repeal NJ tax on cosmetic procedures

Ambulatory Surgery Reimbursement Update, February 14, 2006

A bill to repeal New Jersey's cosmetic surgery tax was introduced in the state by the same assemblyman who sponsored the original tax bill in 2004, according to a press release issued on the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Web site.

The Coalition to Stop Medical Taxes, a national group that lobbies against taxing patients for any medical procedures, applauded the repeal bill (bill A2282), which was introduced by Assemblyman Joseph Cryan.

"We greatly respect the fact that Assemblyman Cryan has taken this step to repeal this tax," said Bruce Cunningham, MD, ASPS president. "States around the country are grappling with funding issues. But taxing medical procedures is simply not the answer."

New Jersey was the first state to tax medical procedures in 2004. The original bill was expected to generate $24 million in its first year, but only brought in $7.8 million.

Although some lawmakers throughout the rest of the country viewed the tax as a possible way to generate money for state budgets, no states passed cosmetic surgery procedure taxes last year.

To view the ASPS press release, click here.

• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive