Nevada Could Exempt Medical Equipment From the State Sales Tax
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What the Initiative Does
Nevada Question 4 would amend the state constitution to require the state legislature to exempt durable medical equipment, oxygen delivery equipment, and mobility enhancing equipment prescribed for human use by a licensed health care provider from the state sales and use tax.
Examples of things that’d be covered by this exemption include oxygen tanks and concentrators, ventilators, CPAP machines, nebulizers, drug infusion devices, feeding pumps, infant apnea monitors, hospital beds, bath and shower aids, wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and crutches.
In Favor
Medical equipment is already very expensive, and asking ill, often cash-strapped patients to pay sales tax for things they need to stay alive strains their budgets beyond what some can afford. In some cases, people are forced to go without because they can’t afford equipment.
Opposed
It’s bad policy to play favorites with the tax code, and to amend the state constitution to provide certain tax exemptions. It’d make more sense to make changes in statutory law.
In-Depth
Yes on 4, also known as the Alliance to Stop Taxes on the Sick and Dying, led the campaign in support of Question 4 in 2016. This year, Doug Bennett, a retired former owner of a medical supply company in Reno, is the main backer of Question 4. Bennett argues that this tax break would offer a small benefit to patients facing large medical bills, saying, “Many of the people have a real tough time paying their medical expenses. And some patients have even gone without because they couldn't afford it."
There’s no organized opposition to Question 4, but those opposing it typically argue that it’s bad policy to play favorites with the tax code. State Controller Ron Knecht (R) has come out against Question 4, arguing that changes could be made in statute rather than by amending the state constitution. Knecht says, “Enshrining these provisions in the constitution would prevent timely reform of any parts of the proposal that may be found to merit change or repeal later.”
Question 4 passed in 2016 with nearly 72% of the vote. Because it amends the state constitution, it needs to go to voters for a second time in 2018. In Nevada, amendments must be approved twice to take effect.
In 2013, at least 7% of Nevadans were prescribed products that’d be eligible for the tax exemption proposed in Question 4.
Summary by Lorelei Yang
(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / vadimguzhva)
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