NTU urges all Representatives to vote “YES” on H.R. 452, the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act.This legislation would repeal provisions relating to the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) contained in the so-called Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
Among PPACA’s many damaging components, IPAB has the future potential to expand government’s already intrusive role in the health services marketplace, hurting both health care providers and patients. IPAB’s decision-making process, which can impose important changes without Congressional approval, could eventually lead to economically undesirable policies such as price controls. The real-world consequences could include market distortions such as more doctors fleeing Medicare practice and declining investment in researching new medical treatments that could save lives and money.
Adding to the woes of consumers, there will be no individual-level form of appeal to this powerful new board composed primarily of unelected, unaccountable Presidential appointees whose only check would come from an unlikely supermajority override vote of Congress. Meanwhile, the nature of IPAB’s role within PPACA would likely bias the direction of the health policy debate to short-term price-setting rather than long-term reforms with bigger cost-saving potential. IPAB reflects Congress’s worst impulses to avoid accountability for the hard work of restructuring the entire Medicare system.
In addition to holding votes on repealing PPACA as a whole, it is vital to take every legislative opportunity to protect Americans from PPACA’s most harmful facets. H.R. 452 would remove a major obstacle to consumer-based, pro-taxpayer health care reform. NTU urges all Representatives to vote “YES” on H.R. 452, the IPAB repeal bill. Roll call votes on this measure will be significantly weighted in our annual Rating of Congress.
If you have any questions, please contact NTU Federal Affairs Manager Nan Swift at (703) 683-5700