Dems’ Medicare Slashing Board Draws New Opposition

March 6, 2012

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-12), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Lois Capps (CA-24), Ben Chandler (KY-06), David Cicilline (RI-01), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Costa (CA-16), Mark Critz (PA-12), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), John Garamendi (CA-03), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Kathy Hochul (NY-26), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-09), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Bill Owens (NY-23), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Betty Sutton (OH-16), John Tierney (MA-06), Paul Tonko (NY-21), Niki Tsongas (MA-03), Tim Walz (MN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Sutton’s Medicare Slashing Board Draws New Opposition
Ohio Democrat Defended the Democrat Takeover of Healthcare Which Relied on the Controversial Panel of Unelected Bureaucrats to Cut Medicare

WASHINGTON — As the House prepares to vote to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) provision of Betty Sutton’s government takeover of healthcare, several new groups like the American Medical Association are voicing their opposition to the disastrous Democrat policy. Sutton’s board of unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats is empowered by the Democrats’ healthcare law to slash Medicare, potentially hurting seniors’ access to the care they need.

“This unelected panel of unaccountable bureaucrats tasked with cutting Medicare and potentially limiting seniors’ access to care is another unfortunate side effect of Betty Sutton’s government takeover of healthcare,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Although Sutton’s Democrat leaders in Washington want to make this Medicare-cutting board even stronger this year, everyone from seniors in Ohio to the American Medical Association realizes this big-government ‘solution’ will only create more problems.”

The House is in the process of repealing the Democrats’ hugely unpopular Medicare cutting panel, which even some Democrats are rejecting:

“Two House committees meet this week to mark up a bill repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board, an executive-branch board with control over Medicare prices that even Democrats don’t like. A bill from Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., to repeal IPAB has 19 Democratic cosponsors.” (Meghan McCarthy, “Does Congress Need IPAB?” National Journal, 3/5/12)

This is in contrast with Democrat leaders in Washington who want to make IPAB even stronger this year:

“In addition, it strengthens the Independent Payment Advisory Board to reduce long-term drivers of Medicare cost growth.” (p. 112, “The Budget for Fiscal Year 2013: Department of Health and Human Services,” The White House, 2/13/12)

But healthcare experts like the American Medical Association warn of the dangers this flawed big-government policy presents:

“The AMA has consistently expressed its opposition to the IPAB on several grounds. The IPAB puts important health care payment and policy decisions in the hands of an independent body that has far too little accountability. Major changes in the Medicare program should be decided by elected officials… Adding additional formulaic cuts through IPAB is just not rational and would be detrimental to patient care, especially as millions of baby boomers enter Medicare.” (James L. Madera, Letter to Rep. Joe Pitts, American Medical Association, 2/27/12)

Dems’ Medicare Slashing Board Draws New Opposition http://ow.ly/9u2y6 #madeinwdc #codered

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