Medical device tax repeal advocates feel momentum

And, in other news from Capitol Hill, lawmakers from the House Energy and Commerce Committee grill compounding pharmacies' trade group.

CQ HealthBeat: Opponents Of Tax On Medical Devices See Hope In Fiscal Cliff Debate
Opponents of the health care law's tax on medical devices say they are making headway in their push to repeal the provision before it takes effect next year. But some also see delaying the implementation of the tax as a way to get around concerns about the cost of eliminating it if they're unable to fully repeal it before the end of the session. Rep. Erik Paulsen, [R-Minn.,] the sponsor of the House repeal measure, said he thinks there is a real possibility of wrapping repeal into the end-of-the-year budget negotiations (Attias, 12/7).

CQ HealthBeat: Energy And Commerce Leaders Query Compounding Pharmacies' Trade Group
As part of a continuing investigation into a deadly fungal meningitis outbreak, bipartisan leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Friday asked the trade association that represents compounding pharmacies to explain advice it's given to members about Food and Drug Administration investigations. Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., and ranking Democrat Henry A. Waxman of California wrote to the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists asking for copies of internal academy communications and communications with members about how to handle FDA requests or inspections (Norman, 12/7).