Will U.S. lawmakers repeal medical device tax?

On March 21, the U.S. Senate passed a budget amendment that would repeal the 2.3% medical device excise tax that took effect in January as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The nonbinding amendment to the annual budget resolution passed 79-20, with 33 Democrats and one Independent joining all the Senate Republicans in passing the measure.

However, the resolution is unlikely to be passed by the Senate, according to news reports.

The bipartisan amendment was introduced by Sens.Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), with co-sponsorship from 21 senators.