Key Vote Alert! Letter to Members of the U.S. House of Representatives Supporting H.R. 849, the "Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2017"

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports H.R. 849, the “Protecting Seniors’Access to Medicare Act of 2017,” which would repeal the Independent PaymentAdvisory Board (IPAB) created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act(PPACA).

The IPAB is a commission with the unprecedented authority to makerecommendations to cut Medicare spending by reducing reimbursement rates if thegrowth rate of spending exceeds the target rate. If Congress does not implementspending cuts equal to the amount recommended by the IPAB, the IPAB’srecommendations automatically take effect with no administrative or judicial review.In addition to setting a dangerous precedent for superseding the conventionallegislative process, the IPAB decisions would potentially lead to arbitrary cuts in theMedicare program. If reimbursement rates to Medicare providers are inadequate, thiswould shift costs onto private payers and consumers while also limiting patient accessto care and innovative therapies.Instead of focusing on improving healthcare and implementing delivery systemreforms to address cost and quality issues in healthcare, the IPAB’s likely focus onsimply reducing provider payment rates would preclude a constructive dialogue aboutMedicare modernization and meaningful spending reform.The Chamber applauds efforts to repeal the IPAB and urges the House ofRepresentatives to approve this legislation.Sincerely,Jack HowardSenior Vice PresidentCongressional and Public Affairs