[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 48 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H1521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              REPEAL IPAB

  (Mrs. BIGGERT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 5, the legislation to 
repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board, or IPAB. As we've heard, 
this unelected board of 15 was created under the administration's 
health overhaul to take critical decisions on Medicare spending and 
hide them under a bureaucratic veil. As a result, it has the power to 
step between seniors and their doctors with no accountability.
  Even Medicare's Chief Actuary indicated that the payment reductions 
required of IPAB are unrealistic and could drive doctors out of 
Medicare and limit seniors' access to care. That's hardly an answer to 
rising costs.
  Today's legislation repeals IPAB and reduces costs through bipartisan 
medical liability reform. This commonsense reform curbs junk lawsuits 
and stops forcing doctors to practice costly, defensive medicine. This 
important bill eliminates IPAB and protects health care for America's 
seniors. I'm really glad that it has passed this House, and I hope that 
the Senate will take it up.

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