State Healthcare Groups Strongly Reject Dems’ Medicare Cutting Panel

March 7, 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), 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), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

California Healthcare Groups Strongly Reject Capps’ Medicare Cutting Panel
California Democrat’s Government Takeover of Healthcare Empowered an Unelected Board of Bureaucrats to Slash Medicare, Which State Medical Groups Say Will Limit Care to Seniors

WASHINGTON — In addition to major national healthcare groups like the American Medical Association, healthcare providers in California are also strongly opposed to the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) contained in Lois Capps’ government takeover of healthcare. As the House proceeds to vote to repeal this big-government provision, Capps will be under increasing pressure for this board of unaccountable and unelected bureaucrats assigned with slashing Medicare.

“Healthcare providers in California and across the country continue to speak out against Lois Capps’ board of unelected bureaucrats tasked with cutting Medicare,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Capps continues to defend the Democrat government takeover of healthcare even though it relies upon this Medicare cutting committee that could hurt seniors’ access to the services and treatment they need.”

These California groups strongly oppose the Medicare cutting committee contained in the Democrats’ government takeover of healthcare:

• Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America – California Chapter
• California Healthcare Institute
• California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
• California Medical Association
• California Orthopaedic Association
• California Rheumatology Alliance
• California Urological Association

In the letter to the House Energy and Commerce committee, they advocate for a repeal of IPAB:

“We are deeply concerned about the impact the IPAB will have on patient access to quality healthcare. The bulk of any recommended spending reductions will almost certainly come in the form of payment cuts to Medicare providers. This will affect patient access to care and innovative therapies…

“We do not believe the IPAB is the right way to achieve savings in Medicare and strongly urge Congress to eliminate this provision.” (Letter from Healthcare Stakeholders, House Energy and Commerce Committee, 3/5/12)

State Healthcare Groups Strongly Reject Dems’ Medicare Cutting Panel http://ow.ly/9vxpK #madeinwdc #codered

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