First it was in, then it was out, then it was back in again. Now, the proposed tax on cosmetic procedures has been removed from the healthcare reform bill currently in the Senate. The so-called “Botax” was pulled by Congress at the last minute and replaced with a 10% tax on indoor tanning services. President Obama has said that he expects a vote on the healthcare reform bill prior to Christmas, but Republicans have vowed to slow the process to hold off a final vote until next year. Depending how quickly (or slowly) things move at this point, it is possible that the tax could reappear prior to a final vote on the legislation. To stay up-to-date on all developments, you can sign up for alerts at Stop Cosmetic Tax (stopcosmetictax.org), a site founded by Allergan to fight the proposed tax. We will also keep you updated through our MedEsthetics blog and Facebook page.
-Inga Hansen, executive editor.