On Friday, The Columbian examined my mail piece to seniors throughout Southwest Washington on actions I’ve taken to protect Medicare. My votes, and the solutions I’ve supported, are based on important facts showing that Medicare is in jeopardy if no action is taken. A few important details were missing from the original article, and I appreciate the chance to air the facts here.
The health care reform of 2010 made some sweeping changes to Medicare. One change was to create a powerful 15-person board tasked with reducing costs within Medicare, known as IPAB. I oppose IPAB, because unfortunately this board will restrict seniors’ access to necessary treatments and health care.
There is nothing partisan about concerns over IPAB. That’s why more than 230 Democrats and Republican members of Congress joined together to co-sponsor legislation to eliminate this unelected, unaccountable board.
Consider the letter to Congress signed by more than 400 nonpartisan physician, patient, hospital, and health care advocacy organizations — including the Washington State Medical Association — that says the powerful IPAB board “will have a severe, negative impact on Medicare beneficiaries.” The letter cites the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to note that IPAB will look to squeeze payments to physicians, making it difficult for doctors to even afford seeing Medicare patients.