Obama Panel to Curb Medicare Finds Foes in Both Parties
WASHINGTON Democrats and Republicans are joining to oppose one of the most important features of President Obamas new deficit reduction plan, a powerful independent board that could make sweeping cuts in the growth of Medicare spending.
Representative Paul D. Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin, said expanding the board would put "Politicians are really worried about is the threat to their campaign fund-raising if decisions are made by a board of actual medical experts. If the lobbyists for the bloated health care industry aren't able to buy legislators, then we might actually begin to cut medical costs in this country."
Jeanne Schweder, Charlotte, NC
Mr. Obama wants to expand the power of the 15-member panel, which was created by the new health care law, to rein in Medicare costs.
But not only do Republicans and some Democrats oppose increasing the power of the board, they also want to eliminate it altogether. Opponents fear that the panel, known as the Independent Payment Advisory Board, would usurp Congressional spending power over one of the governments most important and expensive social programs.
Under the law, spending cuts recommended by the presidentially appointed panel would take effect automatically unless Congress voted to block or change them. In general, federal courts could not review actions to carry out the boards recommendations. The impact of the boards decisions could be magnified because private insurers often use Medicare rates as a guide or a benchmark in paying doctors, hospitals and other providers.
Last week, in his speech on deficit reduction, Mr. Obama said he wanted to beef up the boards cost-cutting powers in unspecified ways should the growth of Medicare spending exceed certain goals. Supporters say the board will be able to make tough decisions because it will be largely insulated from legislative politics.
Lawmakers do not agree. Representative Paul D. Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin and chairman of the House Budget Committee, called it a rationing board and said Congress should not delegate Medicare decision-making to 15 people appointed by the president. He said Mr. Obamas proposal would allow the board to impose more price controls and more limitations on providers, which will end up cutting services to seniors.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/us/politics/20health.html?_r=1
WASHINGTON Democrats and Republicans are joining to oppose one of the most important features of President Obamas new deficit reduction plan, a powerful independent board that could make sweeping cuts in the growth of Medicare spending.
Representative Paul D. Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin, said expanding the board would put "Politicians are really worried about is the threat to their campaign fund-raising if decisions are made by a board of actual medical experts. If the lobbyists for the bloated health care industry aren't able to buy legislators, then we might actually begin to cut medical costs in this country."
Jeanne Schweder, Charlotte, NC
Mr. Obama wants to expand the power of the 15-member panel, which was created by the new health care law, to rein in Medicare costs.
But not only do Republicans and some Democrats oppose increasing the power of the board, they also want to eliminate it altogether. Opponents fear that the panel, known as the Independent Payment Advisory Board, would usurp Congressional spending power over one of the governments most important and expensive social programs.
Under the law, spending cuts recommended by the presidentially appointed panel would take effect automatically unless Congress voted to block or change them. In general, federal courts could not review actions to carry out the boards recommendations. The impact of the boards decisions could be magnified because private insurers often use Medicare rates as a guide or a benchmark in paying doctors, hospitals and other providers.
Last week, in his speech on deficit reduction, Mr. Obama said he wanted to beef up the boards cost-cutting powers in unspecified ways should the growth of Medicare spending exceed certain goals. Supporters say the board will be able to make tough decisions because it will be largely insulated from legislative politics.
Lawmakers do not agree. Representative Paul D. Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin and chairman of the House Budget Committee, called it a rationing board and said Congress should not delegate Medicare decision-making to 15 people appointed by the president. He said Mr. Obamas proposal would allow the board to impose more price controls and more limitations on providers, which will end up cutting services to seniors.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/us/politics/20health.html?_r=1
