AHA voices support for IPAB repeal bill

The AHA this week expressed support for the Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act (S. 141/H.R. 1190), legislation that would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board. “America’s hospitals support the repeal of IPAB, which was created by the Affordable Care Act, because its existence permanently removes Congress from the decision-making process on Medicare policy,” AHA Executive Vice President Rick Pollack said in letters of support to sponsors Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN). “Further, IPAB threatens the long-time, open and important dialogue between hospital leaders and their elected officials regarding the needs of local hospitals, the patients they serve and how to provide the highest quality of care to patients and communities. Already, America’s hospitals are reimbursed less than the cost of treating Medicare patients. Although hospitals will not be subject to IPAB decisions until 2020, we are deeply concerned that removing elected officials from the decision-making process could result in even deeper and unsustainable cuts to the Medicare program in the future.”