The Independent Payment Advisory
Board.
The law called for this 15-member board appointed by the president to advise
Congress on actions Medicare could take to reduce the growth of healthcare
spending. Congress could take an up or down vote on the recommended measures.
The board, however, cannot recommend changes in premiums, benefits,
eligibility, or taxes, or other changes that would result in "rationing" of
care to Medicare beneficiaries. Nevertheless, it has become something of a
political football, with Republicans charging that the board could lead to
death panels and rationing, because seniors wouldn't be able to get treatments,
especially the costly ones.
The board is in virtually inactive right now. Members have not been appointed, but more relevant is that Medicare's costs have slowed somewhat, and in April Medicare's chief actuary declared that that medical cost inflation would not be high enough to trigger the work of the IPAB. It may not see action for a few years, and then what it does will depend on the political winds and the pace of medical inflation.
The National Health Care Workforce
Commission.
The Affordable Care Act set up this 15-member body to prepare for the increased
demand in primary care needed by all the newly insured people buying in the
shopping exchanges. It's no secret that the US has a shortage of primary care
doctors. The commission was to examine such issues as the right mix of primary
care docs and specialists, and whether pharmacists could help coordinate care.
The administration requested $3 million for the commission to begin its work,
but Congress has not appropriated the money. Federal officials have told
commission members they cannot even meet to discuss its work. The stalemate is
not about money; $3 million dollars is a droplet in the federal budget. The
commission is tied up in the Beltway's larger political struggle.
Next: Obamacare Scorecard Part 2--The hits and misses and mixed reviews of the Affordable Care Act.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
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