House Republicans have introduced a bill that would eliminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which has been given powers under the healthcare reform law to set Medicare rates, starting in 2015, according to a report by the Hill.
Republicans, a handful of Democrats and many healthcare trade groups, including the AMA and AHA, have opposed the board because it puts a great deal of power into the hands of 15 unelected board members.
If per-capita growth in Medicare rates exceeds targets, the board would propose reductions that would have to be adopted unless Congress found another set of cuts or if both houses of Congress, including a three-fifths majority in the Senate, overrode the board's decision. Medicare hospital rates would initially not be subject to board decisions, but chairman of the recent federal deficit commission proposed including hospitals from the start.
GOP sponsors look for Democratic allies
While the independent advisory board became part of the final healthcare reform bill, it did not appear in the version approved by the House. Four Democratic House members joined Republicans in opposing inclusion of the board during debate on the final version of the reform bill. Those four Democrats have not yet signed onto the new GOP bill.
Opponents of the advisory board will face accusations of adding to the deficit. The Congressional Budget Office projected the board would save Medicare $28 billion through 2019. But a sponsor of the bill called that projection "wobbly math."
Read the Hill report on Medicare payments.
Read more coverage of the Independent Payment Advisory Board:
- Federal Deficit Panel's Draft Report Includes Fee-Fix, Cuts for Hospitals
- 8 Key Issues for Specialists
- AHA Now Backing Repeal of Independent Payment Advisory Board
Republicans, a handful of Democrats and many healthcare trade groups, including the AMA and AHA, have opposed the board because it puts a great deal of power into the hands of 15 unelected board members.
If per-capita growth in Medicare rates exceeds targets, the board would propose reductions that would have to be adopted unless Congress found another set of cuts or if both houses of Congress, including a three-fifths majority in the Senate, overrode the board's decision. Medicare hospital rates would initially not be subject to board decisions, but chairman of the recent federal deficit commission proposed including hospitals from the start.
GOP sponsors look for Democratic allies
While the independent advisory board became part of the final healthcare reform bill, it did not appear in the version approved by the House. Four Democratic House members joined Republicans in opposing inclusion of the board during debate on the final version of the reform bill. Those four Democrats have not yet signed onto the new GOP bill.
Opponents of the advisory board will face accusations of adding to the deficit. The Congressional Budget Office projected the board would save Medicare $28 billion through 2019. But a sponsor of the bill called that projection "wobbly math."
Read the Hill report on Medicare payments.
Read more coverage of the Independent Payment Advisory Board:
- Federal Deficit Panel's Draft Report Includes Fee-Fix, Cuts for Hospitals
- 8 Key Issues for Specialists
- AHA Now Backing Repeal of Independent Payment Advisory Board