This Week's News
U.S. House to vote on IPAB repeal, liability reform this week
An AMA-supported bill that would both repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) and enact national medical liability reform is scheduled to come before the U.S. House of Representatives later this week.
The Protecting Access to Health Care Act would eliminate the IPAB, a group of 15 appointees charged with reducing Medicare spending through across-the-board Medicare payment cuts. As a group with very little accountability, it would have considerable power to implement harmful payment cuts in addition to those called for under Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula.
Additionally, the legislation has been paired with significant medical liability reforms, including a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages. Such reforms could save billions of dollars in liability costs each year.
The AMA sent a letter to key members of Congress, encouraging their support of this legislation. Both the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means successfully reported the legislation earlier this month.
Physicians can take a stand on these important issues by asking their members of Congress to pass this legislation. Call the AMA's grassroots hotline at (800) 833-6354 today to tell your U.S. representative to repeal the IPAB and reform the nation's medical liability system.
To post a comment, you must first accept the AMA's Terms of Use.
To post your comment you will need to first accept the AMA's terms and conditions
Your access and use of this Web site is subject to your abiding with the following conditions [and with the additional
Terms of Use
including the AMA's privacy policy, incorporated by reference which must be reviewed before clicking on the "Accept" button below].
You represent:
- will only provide information which you are authorized or have the right to provide and such information will be accurate, complete and current; you will comply with all laws: specifically; your information will not be libelous or defamatory and will not contain indecent or pornographic content;
- you will be respectful and your posting will not be intemperate or designed to harm or ridicule any other person; you will not post with such frequency or repetitiveness that others may be discouraged from posting comments;
- you understand the AMA may employ an abuse reporting mechanism and may block the posting of comments;
- you will present your own views (and not those views of an undisclosed or fictitious third party);
and will not be posted with such frequency or repetitiveness that
others may be discouraged from posting comments.
Your access and use must comply with all applicable governmental regulations and may not interfere with the operation or enjoyment of this Web site by others or with the AMA's operation of this Web site. Continued access and use may be discontinued without notice at any time.
You acknowledge: there can be no expectation of privacy or security of information provided or accessed by you on this Web site; the Web site is made available to you without any warranty of any nature; and your access or use will not create the basis for any claim by you [or by any other person claiming through you] against the AMA related to your use or access or the AMA's operation of the Web site. You understand you may be identified as an AMA member, physician or medical student.
If you do not agree to the foregoing [and the additional
Terms of Use
including privacy policy, incorporated by reference], you must immediately terminate use of the AMA Web site. If you do agree, click on the "Accept" button below to proceed.
By declining the AMA's Term of Use, you will not be allowed to post your comment.
Return to Terms of Use
I Decline the Terms of Use
