Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeons Oppose New Tax on Elective Surgeries
Surgeons in the United States have responded strongly against the recently proposed “elective cosmetic medical” tax that was unveiled late Wednesday, calling it “discriminatory, arbitrary, and difficult to administer.”
Plastic surgery statistics have repeatedly shown that middle class females predominantly purchase these services, so any tax levied against them will unfairly discriminate against women.
The bill also imposes the burden of making clear distinctions between procedures that are “medically necessary” and simply elective. This is a very difficult line to draw in certain situations, and many have questioned the government’s role in making such distinctions.
Details of the bill are below:
”SEC. 5000B. IMPOSITION OF TAX ON ELECTIVE COSMETIC MEDICAL PROCEDURES.
”(a) IN GENERAL.-There is hereby imposed on any cosmetic surgery and medical procedure a tax equal to 5 percent of the amount paid for such procedure (determined without regard to this section), whether paid by insurance or otherwise.
”(b) COSMETIC SURGERY AND MEDICAL PROCEDURE.-For purposes of this section, the term ‘cosmetic surgery and medical procedure’ means any cosmetic surgery (as defined in section 213(d)(9)(B)) or other similar procedure which-
”(1) is performed by a licensed medical professional, and
”(2) is not necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease.
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