On February 29, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health voted 17-5 to send H.R. 452, the "Medicare Decisions Accountability Act,"  to the full House Energy & Commerce Committee for consideration and passage.

Sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe, (R-TN), H.R. 452 would repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)-created Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), an unaccountable and unelected board with sweeping powers to mandate across-the-board or other targeted reductions to Medicare payments including cuts to payments for physicians.

Lawmakers voting for repeal of IPAB included Reps. Pitts (R-PA), Burgess (R-TX), Whitefield (R-KY), Shimkus (R-IL), Rogers (R-MI), Murphy (R-PA), Blackburn (R-TN), Gingrey (R-GA), Latta (R-OH), McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Lance (R-NJ), Cassidy (R-LA), Guthrie (R- KY), Barton (R-TX ), Upton (R-MI) , Pallone (D-NJ), and Towns (D-NY ).  Lawmakers voting against repeal of IPAB included Reps. Dingell (D-MI), Capps (D-CA), Schakowsky (D-IL), Gonzalez (D-TX), and Waxman (D-CA). Lawmakers not voting included Reps. Myrick (R-NC), Engel (D-NY), Baldwin (D-WI), Ross (D-AR), and Matheson (D-UT).

Recently, as a co-founder of the Physician Coalition to Repeal IPAB, ASA signed a joint letter with 23 other medical organizations to members of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health urging the Committee to repeal the onerous provision. Key members of the ASA Grassroots Network were also activated to contact their local Member of Congress in support of the repeal legislation.

On March 6 the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on H.R. 452.

ASA will continue to build Congressional support for repeal of IPAB.

Click here to read the Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman's opening statement.
Click here to read the Health Subcommittee Chairman's opening statement.