STATE | ASPS Backs Wisconsin ASC Tax Repeal Legislation
On September 21, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) repealed the existing tax on ambulatory surgery centers as part of his 2017-2019 state budgets. Eight years later, Wisconsin state legislators – in agreement with Governor Scott Walker – have corrected course by fully repealing the tax. However, the path to repeal was somewhat unconventional. Walker first introduced the provision to repeal the tax in his budget proposal, announced in February. During the ensuing months, the Legislative Joint Finance Committee (JFC) kept the assessment and removed its repeal from the proposed budget. Following several months of deliberations over other budget-related issues, the JFC ultimately incorporated the repeal in its final bill, which was then sent to the full legislature for a vote in each house.
Following the governor's original budget proposal, ASPS submitted comments to both houses of the legislature as each neared their respective floor votes. The Society urged the legislature to support the removal of the tax on these facilities, which play a critical role in the practice of plastic surgery, specifically, and keeping health care costs in check generally. Following the passage of the state budget by both houses, ASPS submitted comments to Governor Walker further reiterating the Society's support for this provision, which will be a welcome relief for health care providers in the state.