Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation

For Immediate Release
November 25, 2003

Over-the-Counter Expenses for Medical and Dental Care Could Become Deductible:
Move Spearheaded and Applauded by the SSF

Consumers may soon be allowed to deduct over-the-counter costs as itemized medical expenses on their taxes, thanks to the OTC Medicine Tax Fairness Act, H. R. 3596, introduced just before the Thanksgiving break by Representatives Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY). The Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation (SSF) and Sjögren’s patients around the country played a major role in creating the bill to help ease the burden of OTC costs. This bill changes the tax code to allow tax deductions for any medically necessary expense, including OTC drugs and products.

“This is a major breakthrough for many consumers but especially for those who suffer from Sjögren’s syndrome, one of the most common autoimmune diseases affecting four million Americans. Sjögren’s patients depend primarily on OTC drugs and products to treat their symptoms, and the costs have long placed a tremendous financial burden on patients and their families,” says Steven Taylor, SSF National Executive Director.

To take advantage of medical tax deductions, costs must reach 7.5% of adjusted gross income. As long as your physician or dentist says that you need a drug or product for a medical condition, the cost may be deducted on your taxes. You don’t have to prove a specific diagnosis to take advantage of the deduction.

How OTC Costs Affect Lives: The SSF gathered many individual stories from around the country documenting the impact of OTC expenses in treating their disease. SSF is happy to share those stories. Many living on a fixed retirement income struggle with high OTC expenses, while others face tough decisions with expenses related to raising families in addition to treating their disease. Patient Carol Linnane Eubanks writes, “Sometimes I was so afraid of the financial burden that I would skip buying items… I make decisions every day: Eye drops or SAT courses, products to protect my teeth or school tuition.” A 1998 SSF survey found patients spend approximately $1,000 a year in OTC costs for treating Sjögren’s, and 14% spend more than $2,000 a year.

Sjögren’s syndrome: Few prescription drugs are available to treat Sjögren’s syndrome, and patients rely on a wide array of OTC drugs and products to prevent serious complications. Sjögren’s syndrome can impact any body organ or system through an autoimmune process and specifically causes dysfunction of moisture-producing glands, leading to dryness of the eyes, mouth, throat, and skin, and impairing the digestive system, lungs, pancreas, and genitourinary tract. Patients are largely dependent on OTC drugs to replace moisture and deal with resulting complications. Without use of OTC eye drops, gels, and ointments, oral and nasal moisturizers and other drugs and products ranging from special lotions to humidifiers and medications for inflammation, infection and reflux, unnecessary and severe complications can arise. These complications can lead to loss of productivity, including the ability to work and take care of oneself and one’s family, devastate quality of life and lead to more expensive medical consequences.

This bill will make a tremendous difference for millions of Americans, 4 million of whom suffer from the symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation
8120 Woodmont Ave., Ste 530, Bethesda, MD 20814
www.sjogrens.org
Tel: 301-718-0300 Fax: 301-718-0322
Steven Taylor, National Executive Director
Katherine Hammitt, Public Policy Director

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