Washington—The ADA and more than 30 state and national dental organizations and manufacturers signed onto a Sept. 28 letter to the bipartisan congressional leadership urging repeal of the medical device tax.

“As Congress nears the end of the calendar year, we respectfully request that repeal of the medical device excise tax be addressed as a top priority,” said the letter signed by nearly 1,000 organizations and businesses. “Implementation of what was to be a $ 20 billion excise tax—and is now estimated to collect over $ 30 billion in taxes—is adversely impacting patient care and innovation and will substantially increase the costs of health care,” the letter said.

The letter was delivered to the House and Senate leaders of both parties as Congress failed to reach agreement on appropriations for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, forcing a government shutdown.