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Unchecked Power: The Independent Payment Advisory Board
Posted by Randy | March 20, 2012

Buried in the new health care law is the creation of a board of unelected bureaucrats known as the "Independent Payment Advisory Board" (IPAB). This powerful board's sole purpose is to save money by restricting access to care of Medicare beneficiaries.

Here are some things you need to know about IPAB, including details on how the IPAB threatens access to care and how the IPAB has blanket authority to act in secret. Even the most basic legislative checks and balances have been stripped away, giving enormous power to this Medicare cutting board.

Nothing is more troubling than IPAB’s ability to put bureaucrats between patients and their doctors. No board of unelected bureaucrats should be given such unchecked power, especially over the quality and accessibility of health care for America’s seniors. 

This week, the House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 5, a bill I’ve cosponsored to reduce costs and reform our medical malpractice liability system by reducing frivolous lawsuits that drive up healthcare costs. The legislation includes another bill that I have cosponsored, the “Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011,” to repeal the IPAB provision in the health care law. Read about the IPAB repeal bill here.

I believe in a better vision for Medicare’s future – one that strengthens Medicare today so we can guarantee it for tomorrow.

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Comments
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  • Thomas G commented on 3/22/2012
    Today the House shamefully voted against the heath care needs of Seniors in this country. While it is mostly a waste of time given this legislation will never pass the Senate, House republicans have once again acted in irresponsible ways. I'm rather disgusted with the way congressman Forbes framed this issue. President Obama hasn't even appointed anyone in connection with this, and the 15 members involved required Senate confirmation anyway. The American people know what is going on in this congress and there is a reason that this congress is viewed with historic low approval. The American people are going to have to fix this in November. The war on health care for citizens continues, and it is shameful.
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