Mitt Romney's dreaded unelected health board not so sinister
Barb ShellyListening to Mitt Romney, you’d think we all have good reason to be afraid, very afraid, of something called the Independent Payment Advisory Board.
At last night’s debate, Romney said President Barack Obama “has as a model that a board of people at the government, an unelected board, appointed board, who are going to decide what kind of treatment you ought to have.”
Oh my gosh. Is the IPAB going to weigh in on the antibiotic I just ordered for my kid? My allergy prescription? My mom’s attempt to figure out why she gets short of breath so quickly?
Hardly. Romney, like so many Republicans before him, is exaggerating and demonizing a panel created by the Affordable Care Act solely for the Medicare program.
Its 15 members, which could include doctors, nurses, health policy experts and consumers, would be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. They would go to work only if federal spending on Medicare in a given year exceeds the targets set by law. The board would propose spending cuts in the program, and they would take effect unless Congress objects with a supermajority of votes or proposes its own cuts that would save as much money.
The IPAB is forbidden by law to ration care, cut benefits or eligibility or increase Medicare programs. It cannot, by definition, weigh in on treatment decisions for individual Americans.
What the board can do is reduce government payments to providers such as doctors and device makers. It can penalize hospitals with high rates of avoidable re-admissions or infections. It can recommend measures to cut wasteful spending.
Frankly, it is a very good idea to have a board dedicated to reining in costs in Medicare. The hope is that some of its recommendations and innovations will be adopted by other parts of the health care network.
Oddly enough, similar boards are written into the Massachusetts health care law, which Romney signed, and in the 2009 Patients’ Choice Act proposed by Paul Ryan, Romney’s running mate.
Whether it’s the insurance mandate or the IPAB or other elements of health care reform, Republicans are fine with the concepts until they have Obama’s name on them.
George Hunsucker
Northland
7 months, 2 weeks agosurprise, surprise, surprise…. ms. shelly is all for a group of government bureaucrats controlling healthcare in America. Why, I am shocked, yes shocked that she would support such an expansion of government, clearly delineated in the Constitution of course…
Not to worry ms. shelly, early next year 0care will just be a memory as we repeal this intrusion into people’s lives and freedom.
Steven Fetter
66223
7 months, 2 weeks ago“Its 15 members, which could include doctors, nurses, health policy experts and consumers, would be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.”
Its 15 members could also include career bureaucrats, ambitious politicians, and those with agendas.
Will you be as confident with these government panels in a time when there is a Republican majority in place?
Mark Hastert
7 months, 2 weeks agoConservatives are the only people who can make saving money and improving service sound like a bad thing. Ask yourself, do you want your fate in the hands of an insurance clerk with no medical credentials whose bonus & raise is based on saving money for the company?
George Hunsucker
Northland
7 months, 2 weeks agoI will take a PRIVATE ENTERPRISE personal over a government bureaucrat any day of the week….
Why do people like bigger government???????
Mark Hastert
7 months, 2 weeks ago“I will take a PRIVATE ENTERPRISE personal over a government bureaucrat any day of the week….”
Good for you! Go out and “take responsibility for your life and get off Medicare” Otherwise enjoy the services provided by the bureaucrats (that’s public servants to you) keeping you healthy. LOL!
Phil Cardarella
7 months, 2 weeks agoIt is a bit hilarious to see the Tea Party signs that read “Get the Government Out of My Medicare!”
Le’ssee: Who is most likely to make an objective decision about an operation for Little Liza? Some guy on a panel selected by the Prez and confirmed by the Senate — or a guy who gets fired if he costs his employer more than his quota that month? Or gets a bonus for denying coverage?
One of the things that government does do better than private enterprise — in addition to defendning th shores and building roads and dams, etc. — is run a nationa health care system. Canadians voted the politician who set up their system the “Canadian of the (20th) Century”.