Republicans Plan To Use IPAB Against Democrats In November Elections

The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) was created as part of the Health Care Reform bill to force cuts to drug companies, insurers, and medical service providers if Medicare spending continues to climb. Republicans believe that the IPAB would squeeze payments to service providers and eventually stifle medical innovation and cause providers to see patients with non-Medicare coverage. Effectively rationing healthcare to those who can pay more, and making it difficult for Medicare patients to get the care they need.

The House of Representatives recently passed a symbolic bill to repeal the IPAB, but that bill is expected to stall out in Congress. Many Democrats would have also voted to repeal but the Republicans added additional caps on medical malpractice awards which Democrats oppose.

The Republican strategy is to make the IPAB an issue for the elections, but to wait until after the beginning of 2013 to get the IPAB repealed. Republicans are hoping that Seniors will see them as better stewards of Medicare.

Stay tuned for more.

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