WASHINGTON — A new ObamaCare tax on medical devices has already resulted in the loss of about 33,000 jobs in the industry, according to a prominent health-care trade association.
The grim statistic negates claims this week by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that “there is absolutely no evidence .?.?. that there is any job loss related to the Affordable Care Act.”
The Advanced Medical Technology Association surveyed its members to determine the number of lost jobs since the 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices took effect in January 2013, raising about $3.8 billion a year to help pay for ObamaCare.
The survey found that nearly a third of respondents had cut research and development because of the tax, and almost 10 percent had moved manufacturing abroad.
The job losses were put at about 14,000, with another 19,000 openings that were left unfilled.
“During a time when there is bipartisan support for growing high-technology manufacturing jobs, these results should serve as a wake-up call,” said Stephen J. Ubl, president of the Advanced Medical Technology Association.