House Committee repeals Independent Payment Advisory Board
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IPAB was created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and has drawn widespread bipartisan opposition.
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has come out in support of the repeal of IPAB. “The ACC strongly supports efforts to align financial incentives to inspire greater focus on providing care that is patient-centered, improves quality and reduces national health expenses, but we believe that IPAB would be unsuccessful in this endeavor,” ACC CEO Jack Lewin, MD, said in a statement. “IPAB was a good idea in theory, but the structure does not yield to the goal of the program. The ACC urges Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to improve the purpose of IPAB by applying to all health sectors at the same time, placing an emphasis on payment reforms that improve quality and lower costs while maintaining its ultimate accountability for the sustainability and stability of the Medicare program.”
Likewise, the American Medical Association (AMA) also has cheered the repeal. "We applaud the House Energy and Commerce Committee for passing HR 452, legislation introduced by Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) to repeal the IPAB," said AMA President Peter W. Carmel, MD. "The AMA has actively supported repeal of the IPAB because it would add to the problems caused by the broken Medicare physician payment formula. The IPAB would have far too little accountability and the ability to make across-the-board Medicare cuts."
The Committee also approved the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act (HR 3309) and the Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act (HR 3310).
“The common thread among these bills is ensuring a sound process,” said Upton. “What matters is not just what government does, but how we do it. Whether it’s decisions about how to protect Medicare patients while reducing the cost of the program or whether it’s how the Federal Communications Commission administers telecommunications policy, these practices should be open and accountable. And that’s precisely what this legislation is designed to accomplish.”
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Process Reform Act passed by a vote of 31 to 16. The act aims to improve the way the FCC operates by improving transparency, predictability and consistency as part of the ongoing effort to ensure the commission’s work encourages job creation, investment and innovation. The FCC Consolidated Reporting Act, which consolidates the reporting obligations of the FCC to improve transparency and oversight while reducing regulatory burdens, passed by voice vote without any recorded opposition.