IPAB

When contemplating the past 2012 elections, in response to the republican budget cuts, Obama stated that Medicare cost will be controlled under the independent payment advisory board (IPAB) which was established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This board is criticized by health care providers nationwide for its lack of authority and flexibility.  IPAB is a 15 UN ELECTED member board that is in charge of cutting cost with using a spending target system.

April 30, 2013 will be the start of a yearly prediction based on whether Medicare’s per-capita spending growth rate in the following years will exceed a target rate. They will base the target rate by a projected 5-year average. If future Medicare spending is expected to exceed the targets, the IPAB will have recommendations to put forth in front of congress and the president to reduce the growth rate. January 15 2014 will be the first set of recommendations. If congress fails to pass legislation by august 15th to produce savings, the IPAB recommendation will automatically will go into effect.

IPAB has to reduce Medicare cost without reducing benefits, increasing premiums, or making reimbursement cuts to hospital or nursing homes. Where then are the cuts going to come from, Physician reimbursement? Unfortunately with reimbursement being cut even more than it already is that will lead to fewer physician accepting Medicare patients, thus decreasing access to health care which we, referring to health care workings are already seeing with Medicare and Medicaid. Only one in three physician in 2012 accepted Medicaid and Medicare because of their low reimbursement rate. IPAB will go against what liberal said with wanting patients to have the ability to access quality health care.

The IPAB is by law unable to propose real structural reform. We are looking at a law that will only be making cuts to physicians by cutting there reimbursements, including administrative cost. This flawed micromanagement, that we will see in Medicare, will once again be damaging  access of care and ineffective at controlling cost.

We  are looking at some serious problems when it comes to health care for seniors.  We are looking at more Medicare cost shifting on the individuals and families, additional cuts will increase the percentage of physician declining Medicare and increase emergency room overflow.  Excuse me, but what kind of reform is this? I stand with American Medical Association in the elimination of the IPAB. I believe reform is necessary to lower the nation’s debt, but I do not believe that cutting reimbursement for work done by physicians, health care workers and peoples lives  is the correct way to decrease the debt ceiling. I believe we need to look at Medicaid reform, government handouts, and creating jobs. I do not believe in taking the rights away from seniors who have been an asset to our society is the correct punishment our health care system needs.