IPAB repeal bill clears House committee

The House Ways and Means Committee yesterday voted 24-13 to approve legislation that would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board. The 15-member board was created by the Affordable Care Act to make recommendations on Medicare payment policy if the projected five-year average growth in per capita Medicare spending exceeds a specified target, which has not happened to date. The IPAB recommendations would take effect unless Congress passed legislation to achieve the target savings. Hospitals other than critical assess hospitals are excluded from the board’s recommendations through 2019. The bill does not specify how Congress would offset the cost of the repeal.