Obamacare may bite you...at the vet's office?

[MastaG8r]

Courtesy of my local CBS affiliate...

Obamacare May Bite You At The Vet’s Office

MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Pet owners listen up: You may want to start saving more money for veterinarian care this year. The reason goes all the way back to Washington and an unintended consequence from medical reform.

Dog owner Lori Heiselman was surprised when her veterinarian posted a warning on Facebook. The notice read: “Because medical equipment and supplies will be going up in cost, that extra expense will have to passed on to the customers.” So Lori is already tightening her belt to pay for the increase in her dog’s care. Though she doesn’t like it, she’s willing to pay more for her pets. “They’re very important. They’re members of the family,” said Heiselman.

Why the increase? Its part of a new 2.3-percent federal excise tax on certain medical devices that just went into effect. The tax will help fund the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, intended for people, not pets. Manufacturers pay the tax, but a recent survey found more than half plan to pass it along.
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How does this work? Medical devices used only on animals are exempt. However, items including IV pumps, sterile scalpels and anesthesia equipment, which are medical devices that have a dual use, meaning they can be used on people and animals, will be taxed.
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Dr. Mark Lutschaunig is the director of the Governmental Relations Division of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “Congress never intended for this tax to impact veterinarian medicine and unfortunately it has, and I think that’s very unfortunate that veterinarian medicine now is subsidizing human health care,” said Dr. Lutschaunig.

Congressional sources who worked on the Affordable Care Act said lawmakers tried to exclude vets from being affected by the dual use medical devices tax, but it was too complicated.
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Don't blame my dogs. They both voted (via absentee ballot) for Romney. You know, the guy who wasn't qualified to be President because he took his dog along on a family vacation. Meanwhile our Imperious Leader, Mr. "I Promise Obamacare is Not a Tax," is picking the pockets of American pet owners so he can have more money to pay his dog handler to trot his pedigreed pooch around the unoccupied, visitor-free halls of the White House.

[gatordowneast]

I'm glad my dog can't vote as he would likely vote for Obama. All he does is sit around, look cute and beg for handouts. His nickname is "democrat".

[MastaG8r]

Originally Posted by gatordowneast

I'm glad my dog can't vote as he would likely vote for Obama. All he does is sit around, look cute and beg for handouts. His nickname is "democrat".

[MastaG8r]

During her Google Hangout today, First Lady Michelle Obama reminded the audience that dogs need a proper diet and exercise, just like children do.

The First Lady admitted that President Obama liked to tease their own dog, “Bo” for being lazy, but that they encouraged her girls to take him on walks.

“Dogs are no different,” Michelle Obama explained to a woman on the chat. “You want to make sure they are eating a balanced diet, and if they are not an active dog, make sure that their food is reflective of an inactive dog and then get them out there and throw that ball and get them running.”

The First Lady added that it was important to “worry about every member of our family.”

Just...

[uftaipan]

Originally Posted by gatordowneast

I'm glad my dog can't vote as he would likely vote for Obama. All he does is sit around, look cute and beg for handouts. His nickname is "democrat".

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. If you want to name him "Democrat," then you also have to vote in his name, preferably more than once.

Personally, I wouldn't mind nearly as much the people who sit around enjoying handouts, while I work and they make more Democrats, if they didn't also to get to vote on how much of my labor they're entitled to.