Article
AUA supports anti-IPAB legislation
The AUA joined 25 other medical organizations in announcing support of legislation that would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board.
The AUA joined 25 other medical organizations in announcing support of legislation that would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board.
The bipartisan Protecting Seniorsâ Access to Medicare Act, introduced by Reps. Phil Roe, MD (R-TN), and Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), would repeal the unelected body of 15 individuals tasked with developing ways to reduce Medicare spending. The panel, created under the Patient Protection and Affordable care Act, is slated to begin work as early as April 30, 2013.
As presently structured, the IPAB cannot include any practicing physicians, the AUA said in a statement. The board is not subject to administrative or judicial review, and any IPAB proposal automatically carries the effect of law unless Congress acts within an extremely limited statutory "fast track" time frame, or unless three-fifths of the Senate votes to override the board. If the IPAB fails to offer a proposal or never becomes operational, its power to cut Medicare spending mandatorily is placed solely in the hands of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"The IPAB has the potential to be far reaching and have devastating effects for patients and physicians, who are already struggling under reimbursement cuts from the sustainable growth rate formula," said David F. Penson, MD, MPH, AUA Health Policy chair. "Meaningful health care reform is about more than simply cutting costs; itâs about generating savings through long-term delivery system reforms.
"We applaud and thank Dr. Roe and Congresswoman Schwartz for their leadership on this issue, and we hope that this legislation is a priority in the coming months."
Related Content
