Amounts Paid For Certain Nonprescription Equipment May Be Deductible.

Rev. Rul. 2003-58

ISSUES

[1] Taxpayer A has an injured leg and uses crutches to enhance mobility while the leg is healing. A uses bandages to cover torn skin on the leg. A's physician recommends that A take aspirin to treat pain in the leg. A also has diabetes and uses a blood sugar test kit to monitor A's blood sugar level. A is not compensated for these expenses by insurance or otherwise.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

[2] Section 213(a) allows a deduction for expenses paid during the taxable year, not compensated for by insurance or otherwise, for medical care of the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent, to the extent the expenses exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. Under § 213(d)(1), medical care includes amounts paid for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body.

[3] Section 213(b) permits an amount paid for a medicine or drug to be taken into account for purposes of the § 213 deduction for medical care expenses only if the medicine or drug is a prescribed drug or insulin. Section 213(d)(3) defines a prescribed drug as a drug or biological that requires a prescription of a physician for its use by an individual. Because aspirin is a drug and does not require a physician's prescription for use by an individual, pursuant to § 213(b), its cost may not be taken into account under § 213, even if a physician recommends its use to a patient. Accordingly, A may not deduct the cost of the aspirin under § 213.

[4] However, § 213(b) does not apply to items that are not medicines or drugs, including equipment such as crutches, supplies such as bandages, and diagnostic devices such as blood sugar test kits. Such items may qualify as medical care if they otherwise meet the definition in § 213(d)(1). In this case, the crutches and bandages mitigate the effect of A's injured leg and the blood sugar test kit monitors and assists in treating A's diabetes. Therefore, the costs of these items are amounts paid for medical care under § 213(d)(1) and are deductible, subject to the limitations of § 213.

HOLDINGS

[5] The principal author of this revenue ruling is John T. Sapienza, Jr., of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Income Tax and Accounting). For further information regarding this revenue ruling, contact Mr. Sapienza on (202) 622-7900 (not a toll-free call).