Sen. Coburn Falsely Stated Senate Bill Would Tax Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction
On November 19, 2009, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) falsely claimed the Senate Democratic health care reform bill would tax post-mastectomy breast reconstruction surgery. In reality, the bill specifically exempts cosmetic surgery "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."
Sen. Coburn Spreads Fear About Health Reform
Sen. Tom Coburn:
They're gonna tax having your breast rebuilt after your breast has been taken off because it is elective plastic surgery. It is elective cosmetic surgery. Yeah, we're gonna have a tax on it because we've taxed elective cosmetic surgery. [Coburn Floor Statement, 11/19/09]
The Bill Exempts Cosmetic Surgery To Ameliorate A Deformity Arising From Injury, Accident, Trauma, Or Disease
The Bill Specifically Exempts Cosmetic Surgery To Ameliorate A Deformity Arising From Injury, Accident, Trauma, Or Disease. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act specifically exempts cosmetic surgery "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." [Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, accessed 11/19/09]
Read it yourself:
[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, accessed 11/19/09]
