Republican senators have reintroduced a bill to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board — a structure the lawmakers say will result in healthcare rationing, according to a report from The Hill.
The IPAB, part of President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is a panel of 15 healthcare experts who must make targeted cuts in Medicare payments to physicians if the program's overall spending exceeds a certain amount.
The panel was designed to cease Congress' involvement in Medicare cuts. President Obama has not yet nominated any experts to the panel, even though it is supposed to be active next year, according to the report.
The bill reintroduced yesterday would repeal the IPAB. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), one of 30 sponsors of the bill, said "the IPAB empowers government and leaves the tough medical choices up to unelected Washington bureaucrats," according to the report.
House Bill Again Proposes IPAB Repeal
Top Healthcare Gurus Uninterested in Filling IPAB Seats
The IPAB, part of President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is a panel of 15 healthcare experts who must make targeted cuts in Medicare payments to physicians if the program's overall spending exceeds a certain amount.
The panel was designed to cease Congress' involvement in Medicare cuts. President Obama has not yet nominated any experts to the panel, even though it is supposed to be active next year, according to the report.
The bill reintroduced yesterday would repeal the IPAB. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), one of 30 sponsors of the bill, said "the IPAB empowers government and leaves the tough medical choices up to unelected Washington bureaucrats," according to the report.
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Loose Framework for SGR Fix Unveiled, New IPAB Repeal Vote DoubtfulHouse Bill Again Proposes IPAB Repeal
Top Healthcare Gurus Uninterested in Filling IPAB Seats