[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 48 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H1499-H1500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           REPEAL OF IPAB WRONGLY TIED TO MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

  (Mr. HOLDEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOLDEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of repealing IPAB. 
However, I speak in opposition to tying this repeal to H.R. 5. This is 
another act of political theater and disingenuous at best.
  IPAB relinquishes congressional responsibility to care for our 
seniors. Passing these decisions off, whether it is to insurance 
companies or an unelected commission, undermines Congress' ability to 
represent the needs of our seniors and make decisions on health care 
policy for Medicare beneficiaries.
  We must preserve access to quality Medicare while containing costs 
and replacing the flawed payment system. Simply cutting reimbursements 
is not the answer. If we truly want to rein in the cost of Medicare and 
repeal IPAB, we should do it as a stand-alone bill.
  The Senate has no intention of bringing H.R. 5 up for a vote. Why 
then are we wasting our time on legislation that has no chance of 
becoming law?
  Americans want their elected leaders working together to find 
solutions to the problems facing our country, not to be active 
participants in political theater.
  I urge my colleagues to have an open and honest debate on Medicare 
reform by bringing an independent IPAB repeal bill to the floor.

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