Two more House Democrats have signed onto a Republican bill to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board, according to a report by The Hill.
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) and Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) join several other House Democrats who registered their opposition to the board in Dec. 2009.
The board, which has powers under the healthcare reform law to set Medicare rates, starting in 2015, would save $28 billion through 2019, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
If per-capita growth in Medicare rates exceeds targets, the board would propose mandatory reductions unless Congress found another set of cuts or if both houses of Congress, including a three-fifths majority in the Senate, overrode the board’s decision.
Medicare hospital rates would initially not be subject to board decisions. But the AHA, AMA and many other provider groups have come out against the board and Republicans see it as “Soviet-style” central planning.
Read The Hill report on healthcare reform.
Read more coverage of attempts to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board:
– GOP Bill Would Repeal Medicare Rate-Setting Board
