The Coalition to Stop Medical Taxes has expressed their wholehearted support for Assemblyman Joseph Cryan’s proposal to repeal his creation of the New Jersey tax on cosmetic surgery procedures. The tax was created in 2004 in an effort alleviate state debt through a seemingly reasonable measure, however doctors and medical professionals feel differently.

Dr. Peter Hetzler, former president of the New Jersey Society of Plastic Surgeons, commented on the repeal bill, “As a physician, I am thrilled because the idea of taxing medical procedures made me very uneasy. I was very concerned about the detrimental effects this tax could have on patients, the medical community, not to mention the integrity of the healthcare system.”

The New Jersey tax set a frightening precedent for some health professionals, fearing that the tax on cosmetic procedures would lead to taxes in other areas of health care. Doctors may have no reason to worry however, given the substantial shortcoming of the cosmetic tax. When initiated, the tax was predicted to bring in an estimated $24 million in the first year along, however only produced a profit of $6.8 million for the state.

Medical professionals are pleased and pleasantly surprised by Assemblyman Cryan’s efforts to change his own legislation. President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Bruce Cunningham has commented, “We greatly appreciate the fact that Assemblyman Cryan has taken this step to repeal this tax. States around the country are grappling with funding issues, but taxing medical procedures is simply not the answer.”

The Coalition to Stop Medical Taxes is comprised of various organizations, businesses, medical professionals and community groups jointly opposed to taxes on medical procedures of any nature.