One of those dead ends--or is it a trap?--is the Independent Payment Advisory Board. Its name appears harmless, but it is a beastly body. The IPAB is supposed to drive down Medicare costs, but it could end up doing so without legislative input. What happened to accountability?
Using a recess appointment, Obama appointed a declared supporter of health care rationing, Donald Berwick, to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. We know where Obama's heart lies.
Each January 15, the board submits its cost-control suggestions to Congress. On that same day, the majority leaders in the House and the Senate must introduce legislation incorporating IPAB's recommendations. Legislators' hands are tied in this process--ObamaCare stipulates that only bills that meet the board's budgetary suggestions may be considered. Huh?
By May, committees with jurisdiction over the process must submit complete their consideration of the IPAB proposals. The committees that miss the deadline are barred from participating. Sweet.
Here's the worst part: By August 15, the Department of Health and Human Services must begin implementing IPAB's suggestions--with approval on Congress and the president. And if it doesn't? The IPAB Medicare budgetary "suggestions" are put into force. Transformational damage.
So Congress must act to stop the IPAB suggestions each year. Who makes up that board? Fifteen members appointed by the president who must be approved by the Senate.
What a mess. This is what happens when members of Congress vote for legislation they haven't read.
Gays, a key constituency of the shrinking Obama coalition, are already denouncing the IPAB. And like the hated 1099 provision of ObamaCare--which was also something no one knew about until President Obama signed his signature piece of legislation into law--there is a growing call for the elimination of the IPAB.
The Weekly Standard has a lot more.
Repealing all of ObamaCare needs to be accomplished, but we require a Republican president for that to happen. Patience...patience...
Related post:
Tommy Thompson: IPAB and how to fix health care reform
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