U.S. Chamber Applauds House Passage of the “Protecting Access to Healthcare Act”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President for Government Affairs Bruce Josten issued the following statement today regarding House passage of the “Protecting Access to Healthcare Act” (H.R. 5), which would eliminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) created by the new health care law, and would make several important reforms to reduce the excessive costs associated with our current medical liability system:

“We applaud efforts to repeal the IPAB and implement common sense medical liability reforms. We will continue to work with Congress to improve patient choice and ensure access to quality, affordable healthcare by pursuing meaningful reforms to the healthcare system.”

IPAB Provision:

“It is clear that the country’s entitlement programs are in dire need of reform. However, delegating legislative authority to unelected members of the IPAB to cut Medicare reimbursement rates in an unchecked manner will only exacerbate the current cost shifting to private payers and consumers and impinge on the ability of patients’ access to care and innovative therapies.” 

Medical Liability Reform Provision:

“The Chamber has a long history of supporting medical liability reform to rein in an out-of-control and inefficient system that raises prices for consumers, doctors and taxpayers while forcing doctors to perform wasteful  and unnecessary defensive medicine procedures. Congress should pass commonsense reforms like H.R. 5 that are carefully calibrated to help address the numerous and substantial impacts that excessive medical liability litigation has on our national economy and interstate commerce while, at the same time, preserving important State interests.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.