News Briefs: Device Tax Repeal Momentum; J&J Settles Hip Suit; Mobile Medical Apps Bill

A bipartisan group of Senators are discussing a new vehicle to break through the continuing resolution and debt ceiling logjams in Congress, with device tax repeal a core component, according press reports. Spear-headed by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the draft plan would include a long-term extension of government funding at sequestration levels; a debt limit increase for more than a year; a repeal of medical device tax, and changes to the Independent Payment Advisory Board among other elements, Politico reported last Thursday.

Meanwhile, The Hill newspaper stated Oct. 10 that the overall plan came from Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is a supporter of making device tax repeal a major part of the deal. Other backers of the plan include Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin ,W.Va., and Dick Durbin, Ill.; as well as Tennessee Republicans Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, Politico wrote. But it is still unclear whether the Senators would accept the use of a pension stabilization provision, part of a transportation authorization bill, as a “pay-for” to replace device tax revenues. That pay-for is being advanced in the House by Reps. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., and Ron Kind, D-Wis