With the start of President Obama’s second term, the high cost of health care is once again a hot topic. And once again, there’s little agreement about how to trim those costs. The President has endorsed the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a 15-member panel charged with slowing the growth in Medicare spending, primarily through provider cuts. But the panel, which was created as part of the Affordable Care Act, doesn’t have a ton of support in Congress – nor among doctors.
Sonya Herbert/White House President Barack Obama is sworn in for his second term in office.
Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.) and Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) introduced legislation to repeal the IPAB. The move was cheered by physicians’ groups, which have been highly critical of the unelected panel. Dr. Jeremy Lazarus, president of the American Medical Association, said it would be far better to cut Medicare costs by exploring new care delivery models than simply going after physician pay.
While the IPAB repeal plan has bipartisan support in the House, its chances for success in the Democrat-controlled Senate are less certain.
In other health reform news, a new study shows that focusing on care coordination when patients prepare to leave the hospital can cut down on readmissions and save money. And as governors mull their choice to expand Medicaid, public opinion appears to be divided on the topic. For more details on all these topics, check out this week’s Policy & Practice podcast.
–Mary Ellen Schneider