Let the screaming in north Scottsdale begin...

From AZCentral.com -

Senate eyes cosmetic surgery, Botox tax

Last week, the Senate began debate on an $848 billion health care reform bill that includes a 5% excise tax on elective cosmetic surgery, beginning Jan. 1, 2010. The provision would raise an estimated $5.8 billion in the next decade.

To those readers who think that I am being inappropriately snarky toward my oh-so trendily-dressed and impeccably-coiffed neighbors to the north, know this -

The website of the Arizona Medical Board lists 21 medical doctors with a specialty in cosmetic surgery.

7, or 33%, list a Scottsdale address on their licenses. An eighth lists an address in Paradise Valley, but that addy is physically on Scottsdale Road. The doctor in question literally just has to cross the street to be in Scottsdale. That's 38% in or right next to Scottsdale.

According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Arizona has more than 6,300,000 people in it.

According to the same source, Scottsdale has 235,000 people, or roughly 3.7% of the state's population, living in it.

3.7% of the general population, but more than 38% of the plastic surgeons.

Hmmm...

:)



Note: These numbers don't include the 7 licensees who list out of state addresses. I believe that most of them practice in Scottsdale when they are in-state, but belief is not proof. Also, the numbers do not include the doctors who have a cosmetic surgery component to their practices, but do not claim it as a specialty with the Medical Board. So far as I know, there is no requirement that they do so.

But it does make running numbers on this topic a little more difficult. :)