[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S2109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   INDEPENDENT PAYMENT ADVISORY BOARD

  Mr. SPECTER. Madam President, I have sought recognition to address 
transparency concerns with the Independent Payment Advisory Board 
established in H.R. 3590.
  As Medicare enrollment grows, the issue of cost-containment becomes 
more pressing. To address this issue the Independent Payment Advisory 
Board was included as part of health reform legislation. The Board's 
task is to slow the rate of growth in the Medicare Program--a goal 
which is important if the program is going to remain solvent for years 
to come. It has been suggested that this Board will operate in secret, 
without public input and its meetings and decision-making process will 
not be transparent. This belief is inaccurate. The legislation ensures 
that the Board operates in an open and transparent way that facilitates 
open discussion and input from the public at large and from Medicare 
beneficiaries. The legislation specifically authorizes the Board to 
hold open and public meetings and I would expect that the Board will do 
this often as it gathers input from various stakeholders in the health 
care sector and Medicare beneficiaries.
  Further, the bill creates a Consumer Advisory Council to advise the 
Board of the impact that its recommendations will have on consumers and 
Medicare beneficiaries. The Advisory Council is directed to meet at 
least twice a year in a forum open to the public. I fully intend and 
expect that as the Board creates its recommendations it will give ample 
weight to the views and concerns of the Consumer Advisory Council, as 
it is consumers that will ultimately be impacted by the decisions of 
the Independent Payment Advisory Board.
  The Board and the Consumer Advisory Council must engage in an open 
and transparent decision making process, with ample opportunity for 
input from Medicare beneficiaries as well as other health care 
stakeholders as is intended by this legislation.

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