H.R. 849 (115^th): Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act

H.R. 849 amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to terminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).

The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) was established as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and is charged with developing proposals to reduce Medicare spending. The board consists of fifteen appointed members that may make recommendations regarding Medicare cuts without Congressional oversight or input. Additionally, IPAB proposals are considered under fast-track procedures that limit Congress’s ability to modify the amount of cuts to Medicare and automatically put the proposal into effect if Congress fails to act. IPAB has yet to be constituted because the conditions that trigger IPAB activity have yet to be met. This condition is determined by the Chief Actuary of CMS annually and consists of whether the projected five-year average growth in per capita Medicare program spending exceeds a specified target.

The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress, and was published on Nov 2, 2017.

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on October 31, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act

This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to terminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). Under PPACA, the IPAB is tasked with developing proposals to reduce the per capita rate of growth in Medicare spending.