Is the monthly rental of a prescription device that treats brain tumors with alternating electric fields subject to Colorado sales or use tax?
Plain-English summary
A company makes a cancer-treatment therapy device that treats solid head tumors by producing alternating electric fields inside the body to disrupt the rapid cell division of cancer cells. The fields are applied through electrodes/transducer arrays placed on the scalp; the device runs on a portable rechargeable battery so the patient can stay mobile. It's FDA-approved as a Class III medical device to treat recurrent glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive brain tumor. Physicians certified by the company write a prescription, the components are shipped, and technical staff train the patient to self-administer. Patients pay a monthly fee (split between durable components and the disposable transducer arrays). The company asked whether the rental of this therapy is subject to Colorado sales or use tax.
The Department's conclusion: it is exempt from Colorado sales and use tax as "equipment and related accessories for electrotherapy dispensed pursuant to a prescription."
How the Department got there — it ran the device through several medical exemptions:
- Prescription drug? No. A "drug" is a substance for diagnosis/cure/treatment, etc., and the statute expressly excludes devices. Because the product is a machine that affects the body without chemical action or being metabolized, and is FDA-classified as a Class III device, it is a device, not a drug.
- Medical, feeding, and disposable supplies? No. That exemption covers supplies for incontinence, infusion, enteral nutrition, ostomy, urology, diabetic care, and wound care dispensed by prescription — none of which describe this product.
- Durable medical equipment? A close question, left unresolved. DME must (among other things) be dispensed by prescription and not worn in or on the body. The battery pack is sometimes carried on the body and sometimes plugged in at rest, and the arrays are attached to the scalp (seemingly "worn on the body") and are essential (not mere accessories). The Department found this a close call but didn't have to decide it, because another exemption clearly applied.
- Electrotherapy — yes, exempt. Colorado exempts "all sales of equipment and related accessories for … electrotherapy dispensed pursuant to a prescription." Though the company didn't raise it, the Department applied it: electrotherapy is generally the use of electrical energy for medical treatment, and this device uses scalp electrodes to create electric fields that slow recurrent GBM. So the device and its related accessories qualify as electrotherapy and are exempt from state and state-administered sales and use taxes.
Because this is a private letter ruling, it is binding on the Department only for this taxpayer and these facts and cannot be relied on by anyone else. (The letter's closing "Miscellaneous" paragraph uses the Department's general boilerplate referring to a "general information letter," but the ruling is identified at the top as the Department's private letter ruling.)
What this means for you
Medical device companies and suppliers
Colorado's electrotherapy exemption is broad — "equipment and related accessories for electrotherapy dispensed pursuant to a prescription" — and the Department applied it even though the taxpayer argued other exemptions. If your device uses electrical energy for medical treatment and is dispensed by prescription, the electrotherapy path may be cleaner than fighting over the "durable medical equipment / worn on the body" line. The exemption reached rentals and the disposable arrays as related accessories.
Healthcare providers and patients
A prescription electrotherapy device (and its essential accessories) can be exempt from state and state-administered sales/use tax. The prescription is the gate — here, certified physicians wrote the orders.
Accountants and tax professionals
The Department's analysis maps Colorado's medical exemptions in § 39-26-717: the drug exemption excludes devices (cross-referencing the federal device definition, 21 U.S.C. § 321(h)); the feeding/disposable-supplies exemption is limited to enumerated categories; durable medical equipment carries a "not worn in or on the body" limit that made this a close question; and the electrotherapy exemption ("equipment and related accessories … dispensed pursuant to a prescription") was dispositive. Note the Department chose not to resolve the DME question once a cleaner exemption applied. Compare the prescription/mobility-equipment analysis in [[gil-15-021-medical-equipment-and-supplies]].
Common questions
Q: Is a prescription cancer-treatment device taxable in Colorado?
A: Not here. The Department ruled this device exempt as equipment and related accessories for electrotherapy dispensed pursuant to a prescription.
Q: Why electrotherapy and not "durable medical equipment"?
A: The DME exemption was a close call because the arrays are worn on the scalp. The electrotherapy exemption applied cleanly, so the Department relied on that and didn't decide the DME question.
Q: Are the disposable transducer arrays exempt too?
A: Yes. The Department treated them as related accessories essential to delivering the electrotherapy, exempt along with the equipment.
Q: Does the rental (not just a sale) qualify?
A: Yes. The question was whether the rental of the therapy is taxable, and the Department concluded the rental is exempt.
Q: Can my company rely on this ruling?
A: No. A private letter ruling binds the Department only as to the specific taxpayer and facts it was issued to, and it expressly cannot be relied upon by any other taxpayer. It also doesn't cover self-collected home-rule city taxes.
Citations and references
Statutes:
- § 39-26-717, C.R.S. (medical exemptions — prescription drugs; durable medical equipment; equipment and related accessories for electrotherapy dispensed pursuant to a prescription)
- § 39-26-104, C.R.S. (sales/use tax on tangible personal property)
- § 39-26-102(15), C.R.S. (definition of tangible personal property)
- 21 U.S.C. § 321(h) (federal definition of "device")
Rules:
- Department Rule 24-35-103.5 (private letter ruling procedure)
Source
- Landing page: Colorado Sales & Use Tax Letter Rulings
- Original PDF: PLR-14-007.pdf
Original ruling text
Office of Tax Policy
P.O. Box 17087
Denver, CO 80217-0087
[email protected]
PLR-14-007
October 20, 2014
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Attn:XXXXXXXXXXX
Re: Cancer Treatment Therapy
Dear XXXXXXXXXX,
You submitted on behalf of XXXXXXXXXXX ("Company") a request for a private letter
ruling to the Colorado Department of Revenue ("Department") pursuant to Department
Rule 24-35-103.5. This letter is the Department's private letter ruling.
Issue
Is the rental of Company's cancer treatment therapy subject to Colorado sales or
use tax?
Conclusion
The rental of Company's cancer treatment therapy is exempt from Colorado sales and
use tax as medical equipment and related accessories for electrotherapy dispensed
pursuant to a prescription.
Background
Company created XXXXXXXXXXX ("Product") to treat solid tumors of the head. The
treatment works by producing alternating electrical fields within the human body that
are believed to disrupt the rapid cell division exhibited by cancer cells. The alternating
electrical fields are applied to the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp. The
therapy delivers non-invasive alternating electric fields through insulated array's that
are attached to the mechanism and placed directly on the skin in the region
surrounding the tumor. The arrays are removed and replaced two or three times per
week. The arrays are replaced to ensure sufficient contact with the patient's skin.
The device is powered by a rechargeable battery in a bag that is carried by patients
so they may maintain mobility, or the device may be plugged in while the patient is
stationary. Patients pay a monthly fee for the therapy which is broken down into a
charge for the durable components and a monthly fee to purchase transducer arrays.
Around-the-clock technical support is included in the fees.
There are three primary components to Product therapy:
• An electric field generator, connection cables, a portable battery, power supply,
rack and power cord.
• INE transducer arrays
• Ancillary items and accessories consisting of boxes, TTF bags, operations
manuals and self-exchange kits.
To obtain the therapy, physicians certified by Company write a prescription for the
patient and submit the prescription to Company's shipping facility. The prescription is
filled and the components of the therapy are shipped to the closest local technical
support staff specialist or to the certified physician's office. The technical staff and the
certified physician are trained to administer Product to the patient in advance of
training the patient to use Product. The day the patient begins treatment, the local
technical support staff delivers the components to the patient, they train and educate
the patient on the proper way to administer the treatment and the technical aspects of
the Product. The patient is provided with a user's manual and the technical support
phone number. The patient receives an agreement to review and sign once they are
trained on how to apply the therapy themselves.
It is the patient's responsibility to request additional arrays. Company replaces
batteries once capacity falls below a certain threshold. After initial treatment begins,
Company typically ships arrays and other components directly to patients.
Company bills the patient's third-party insurance provider, managed care company, or
in some cases, the patient directly. Company's monthly invoice includes all
equipment and transducer arrays in one lump-sum charge. If a patient decides to
discontinue the therapy, they return the equipment and any remaining supplies to
Company at Company expense. Because the arrays cannot be reused, Company is
responsible for the collection and proper disposal of the arrays.
Company received FDA approval to market Product as a stand-alone treatment for
adults with confirmed gliobastoma ("GBM") that recurs. GBM is the most common and
most aggressive malignant brain tumor. In addition, Product is an FDA-approved
Class Ill medical device. Medical devices are classified into Class 1,11, and Ill.
Regulatory control increases from Class I to Class Ill. Durable medical equipment is
generally Class I or II medical devices.
Discussion
Colorado levies sales and use tax on the sale or use of tangible personal property.
However, sales and use of certain medical products are exempt. Company argues
that there are several exemptions under which the sale of Product may apply: (1)
prescription drug; (2) medical, feeding, and disposable supplies; and (3) durable
medical equipment. In addition, the sale of Product may also apply to the sale of
equipment and related accessories for electrotherapy.
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DR 4010A (06/11/14)
1. Prescription Drug
Company argues that Product is exempt as a prescription drug because the common
definition of "drug" is any substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation,
treatment, or prevention of disease in humans or other animals. Colorado statutes
define drug to mean:
1. "Drug" means:
a. Substances recognized as drugs in the official compendia;
b. Substances intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation,
treatment, or prevention of disease in individuals or animals;
c. Substances, other than food, intended to affect the structure or any
function of the body of individuals or animals; and
d. Substances intended for use as a component of any substance
specified in (i), (ii), and (iii) of this paragraph (a).
2. "Drug" does not include devices or their components, parts, or accessories.
We, thus, look to the definition of device to determine whether Product is a device.
Colorado statutes define device to mean: an instrument, apparatus, implement,
machine, contrivance, implant, or similar or related article that is required under
federal law to bear the label..."
We are led to the federal definition of device to determine what devices are required to
bear a medical device label. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) statute define
device to mean:
(h) The term "device" (except when used in paragraph (n) of this section
and in sections 301(i), 403(f), 502(c), and 602(c)) means an instrument,
apparatus, implement, machine, contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent, or
other similar or related article, including any component, part, or
accessory, which is-(1) recognized in the official National Formulary, or the United
States Pharmacopeia, or any supplement to them,
(2) intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions,
or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, in
man or other animals, or
(3) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of
man or other animals, and which does not achieve its primary
intended purposes through chemical action within or on the body of
man or other animals and which is not dependent upon being
metabolized for the achievement of its primary intended purposes.
Product is a "device" and not a "drug" because it is a machine intended to affect the
structure or function of the body and does not achieve that through chemical action
within or on the body and is not dependent upon being metabolized, which are
common means by which drugs achieve these same results. Moreover, Company
represents that its Product is classified by the FDA as a Class Ill medical device.
Given that the definition of "drug" specifically excludes devices, we conclude that
Product is not a prescription drug.
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DR 4010A (06/11/14)
2. Medical, Feeding, and Disposable Supplies
Colorado exempts from sales and use tax:
All sales of medical, feeding and disposable supplies, including any
related accessories, for incontinence, infusion, enteral nutrition, ostomy,
urology, diabetic care, and wound care dispensed pursuant to a
prescription.
Company provides no argument as to why Product should be exempt as a
medical, feeding, and disposable supply. However, Product cannot qualify for this
exemption because Product is not used for incontinence, infusion, enteral
nutrition, ostomy, urology, diabetic care, or wound care.
- Durable Medical Equipment
Colorado exempts from sales and use tax all sales of durable medical equipment.
Durable medical equipment means:
equipment, including repair and replacement parts for such equipment,
dispensed pursuant to a prescription, that:
a. can withstand repeated use;
b. is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical purpose
c. is general not useful to person in the absence of illness or injury;
and
d. is not worn in or on the body.
Product can withstand repeated use, is primarily and customarily used to serve a
medical purpose, and is not useful to a person in the absence of an illness. The
only qualification that seems to be in question is whether Product is not worn in or on
the body.
Product is comprised of a battery pack and electrodes that deliver an electrical charge
from the battery to the scalp in the region surrounding the tumor. The battery pack is
carried by the patient so they may maintain mobility or the device may be plugged in
while the patient is stationary.
This is a close question as to whether this device is worn on the body. The device can
be "worn on the body" when a person carries the device in a pack to maintain mobility.
However, the device is also not worn on the body when the patient is at
rest. Conversely, the arrays are attached to the scalp and, thus, appear to be "worn
on the body". The Department does not believe the arrays can be classified as an
accessory to Product. Accessories means, "an object or device not essential in itself
but adding to the beauty, convenience, or effectiveness of something else." The
arrays are essential to the device delivering the alternating electric fields because
without the arrays, there is no safe means by which the device can deliver the
alternating electric field. In any event, we need not reach a determination regarding
this durable medical equipment exemption because we conclude that the Product
qualifies for another exemption, discussed below.
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DR 401OA (06/"11/14)
4. Electrotherapy
Colorado exempts from sales and use tax "all sales of equipment and related
accessories for....electrotherapy dispended pursuant to a prescription." Although not
raised in the request for ruling, the Department believes that this exemption applies
and, therefore, should be addressed in this ruling..
Electrotherapy is not defined by statute. However, the department believes that the
electrotherapy is generally defined as the use of electrical energy for medical
treatment. Product represents that its Product uses electrical energy by attaching
electrodes directly on the skin in the region surrounding the tumor, and these
electrodes supply electrical energy to create electric fields that travel across the upper
part of the brain in different directions to help slow or stop recurrent GBM cancer cells
from dividing. Thus, sales and use of Product and its related accessories qualify as
electrotherapy and are exempt from state and state-administered sales and use taxes.
Miscellaneous
This letter represents the good faith opinion of Department personnel who are
knowledgeable on state taxes issues. However, the Department does not make a
specific determination here on any of the issues raised and the Department is not
bound by this general information letter.
The Department administers state and state-administered local sales and use
taxes. This letter does not address sales and use taxes administered by home-rule
cities and home-rule counties. You may wish to consult with local governments
which administer their own sales or use taxes about the applicability of those
taxes. Visit our web site at www.colorado.gov/revenue/tax for more information
about state and local sales taxes.
Enclosed is a redacted version of this letter. Pursuant to statute and regulation, this
redacted letter will be made public within 60 days of the date of this letter. Please let
me know in writing within that 60 day period whether you have any suggestions or
concerns about this redacted letter.
Sincerely,
Office of Tax Policy
Colorado Department of Revenue
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DR 4010A (06/11/14)