Washington, D.C. –U.S. Representative, John D. Dingell (D-MI15) submitted the following statement at the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing entitled, “IPAB: The Controversial Consequences for Medicare and Seniors ":
“Thank you Mr. Chairman for holding today’s hearing.
“I find it ironic that today’s hearing is entitled: “IPAB: The Controversial Consequences for Medicare and Seniors.” This seems to be a more fitting title for Chairman Ryan’s voucher plan for Medicare.
“While I would hope that my Republican colleagues are truly concerned about ensuring Medicare is accessible to seniors in need, their support and defense of ending Medicare as we know it leaves me doubtful.
“You can understand then why I find it hypocritical that my Republican friends are voicing disdain for the Independent Payment Advisory Board, or IPAB, which will recommend improvements to Medicare designed to lower health care costs, when the Republican Medicare plan irresponsibly chooses to recklessly slash and burn away the program rather than bothering to improve it.
“The Republican Medicare plan chooses to find savings in Medicare by cutting the program in half by 2050. These proposed savings will be found through eliminating benefits and shifting costs to seniors. On the contrary, IPAB is explicitly prohibited from making any recommendations that would raise premiums, reduce benefits or change eligibility for Medicare.
“The Republican Medicare plan chooses to improve Medicare by actually ending it in favor of a complex voucher system for seniors to purchase costly health insurance coverage in the private market. Under this convoluted plan, the average senior would pay $6,400 out of pocket in the first year of the plan, and by the tenth year seniors would end up paying 70 percent of their own health care bills. IPAB on the other hand is explicitly prohibited from increasing cost-sharing for seniors and is directed to protect access to services for Medicare beneficiaries.
“The solvency of the Medicare program is of the utmost importance to me and the thousands of seniors across this country, and I urge my colleagues to prioritize this issue especially during our country’s economic struggles. These seniors have had to make tough choices to pay for their prescriptions or their gas bill, and they expect that the federal government will make the tough choices necessary to keep the promise Medicare has made to those nearing, planning for in retirement.
“Today’s hearing should not be used to exercise partisan soapbox rhetoric, rather this Committee should use today as an opportunity to learn about how IPAB can best be implemented to keep the historic promise we made to our seniors that their health care will be accessible and affordable long after they leave the workplace.”
To view Congressman Dingell questioning Secretary Sebelius, click here:
To view Congressman Dingell questioning Dr. Jack Lewin, click here:
###
