President Talks Medicare Cuts: The Policy & Practice Podcast

Courtesy The White House

President Obama released his plan to cut the deficit and Medicare is being asked to help pay the piper. His plan also gives additional power to the unpopular Independent Payment Advisory Board,  an appointed body that will be charged with cutting Medicare spending.

In other Medicare news, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission gave more details on its plan to replace the Sustainable Growth Rate formula. Radiologists and the American College of Physicians came out against the plan, which freezes payments to primary care for the next decade.

For more on that and details about yet another court hearing on the Affordable Care Act, listen to this week’s Policy & Practice Podcast.

Stay tuned next week for updates on potential Supreme Court action on the health law and more.

—Frances Correa (@FMCReporting on Twitter)

Here Comes the Super Committee

The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction was created as a part of Congress’ debt deal in July. The 12-member bipartisan committee is charged with cutting $1.5 trillion in federal spending by Thanksgiving. Medicare and Medicaid benefits, doctor’s pay, and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan could be on the chopping block. As physicians advocate for a permanent fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate Formula and medical liability reform(among other things), here’s a look at what you can expect from committee members concerning the issues that matter to you.

Co-Chair: Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.)

Courtesy Sen. Murray

As a supporter of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Sen. Murray (@SenMurrayPress) advocates for expanding access to health care, including increasing mental health coverage and the use of health technology. She also supports decreasing long-term health costs through preventive care.

She has experience in handling budget and spending issues after serving on the Senate Budget Committee and the Appropriations Committee. She is currently the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation. Click here to learn more.

Health-related legislation: Sen. Murray has sponsored several health-related bills including legislation to increase awareness of emergency contraception, and a bill to improve mental health services for the military.

Co-chair: Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.)

Courtesy Rep. Hensarling

Rep. Hensarling (@RepHensarling)  has a background in economics and previously served on the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and on the President’s Debt Commission.

Rep. Hensarling has maintained a conservative voting record and opposed the ACA, calling it a “travesty.” He advocates for limited government, including arguing against the expansion of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. He currently serves as the chairman of the House Republican Conference and as vice-chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Click here to learn more.

Health-related legislation: Sen. Harling has cosponsored legislation to repeal the ACA (H.R. 4903, H.R.4919,  and H.R.4972). He has also cosponsored H.R. 3217, to allow Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines, and H.R. 1086 to enact medical liability reform.

Other members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction include:

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.)

Courtesy Sen. Baucus

A long-time supporter of the ACA, Sen. Baucus (@MaxedBaucus) supports expanding Medicaid and Medicare benefits, increasing preventive services, and closing the prescription drug coverage gap under Medicare Part D. He also supports programs to provide access to health care for displaced workers, farmers, and ranchers. He has advocated to increase funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and is the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Click here to learn more.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)

Courtesy Sen. Kerry

Sen. Kerry (@JohnKerry) has been a steady advocate for expanding health coverage for children. He has also been behind legislation to improve funding for hospitals as well as consumer protection in the Medigap marketplace. A supporter of the ACA, Sen. Kerry also has worked to improve and expand access to health care in his own state, which functions under a single-payer system. In 2010, Sen. Kerry worked to provide incentives for small businesses to offer health insurance for their workers. He is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Click here to learn more.

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.)

Courtesy Sen. Kyl

Sen. Kyl (@SenJonKyl) supports repealing the ACA, maintaining the belief that the law takes decision-making away from physicians and patients and puts it in the hands of the government. He also advocates for medical liability reform, the purchase of health insurance across state lines, and expanding coverage through improving the system of health spending and flexible spending accounts. He currently serves on the Senate Finance Committee. Click here for more on his preferred approach to health care reform.

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.)

Courtesy Sen. Toomey

Sen. Toomey (@SenToomey) cosponsored the bill the repeal the ACA. In an op-ed piece, Sen. Toomey voiced support for individuals purchasing health insurance, as opposed to an employer-based system, as well as purchasing coverage across state lines. He also supports the need for medial liability reform and federal regulations to allow small businesses and organizations to purchase health insurance on behalf of their members. He sees this as a path to decreasing costs and increasing competition. Click here to learn more.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)

Courtesy of Sen. Portman

Sen. Portman (@robportman) does not support the ACA. He argues that the health care law increases costs for employers, making it more difficult for them to hire workers. Sen. Portman has voiced his support for expanding health savings accounts, purchasing health insurance across state lines, implementing tort reform, and encouraging medical innovation. Click here to learn more.

Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.)

Courtesy Rep. Becerra

Rep. Becerra (@RepBecerra) has spoken out in ardent support of the ACA, calling it “transformative.” He has advocated for the expansion of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. In 2010, Rep. Becerra was recognized by the California Hospital Association as  a “health care champion” for his work to preserve $3 billion in Medicare funds  for hospitals in California.  Click here to learn more.

Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.)

Courtesy Rep. Camp

Rep. Camp (@RepDaveCamp) is the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He was the first to introduce a bill to repeal the ACA, although he has supported certain aspects of the law including providing affordable coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions.   Rep. Camp submitted his own alternative to the health care law, which he says will lower to cost of care without raising taxes or cutting Medicare. Click here to learn more.

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.)

Courtesy Rep. Clyburn

Rep. Clyburn (@Clyburn) was one of the main advocates for the passage of the ACA. He previously voted against capping damages in medical liability suits. Rep. Clyburn  also supports the expansion of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, as well as negotiating prices for prescription drugs covered under Medicare Part D. Click here to learn more.

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.)

Courtesy Rep. Upton

Rep. Upton (@RepFredUpton) advocates for repealing the ACA, expanding health savings accounts, allowing the purchase of coverage across state lines, and implementing medical liability reform. He has also spoken out against the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), an 15-person appointed board that will be tasked with reducing costs to Medicare, without affecting quality or coverage. IPAB opponents say it could take aim at reimbursements to health professionals, who already face a 30% pay cut in January. Rep. Upton serves as chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)

Courtesy Rep. Van Hollen

Rep. Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen)  supports the IPAB, saying it is a tool that ensures the solvency of Medicare. He has also argued against raising the age Medicare eligibility. In a recent interview with National Public Radio, Rep. Van Hollen said the government should improve incentives for doctors and hospitals to provide quality care. Rep. Van Hollen serves as ranking member of the House Budget Committee. Click here to learn more.

–Frances Correa (@FMCReporting on Twitter)

Research for this article was gathered from the following sources: govtrack.com, PRNewswire, Senate websites, House websites, politifact.com, ohiogop.com, ontheissues.org, politico.com, and npr.org

Lawmakers Agree on Debt Plan: The Policy & Practice Podcast

After weeks of contentious debate, lawmakers have finally reached an agreement to raise the nation’s borrowing limit. The plan includes cuts to lower the deficit by about $1 trillion over 10 years and creation of a committee to determine future cuts. The plan did not address the Sustainable Growth Rate formula and the committee could potentially reduce physician pay under Medicare and Medicaid. Congress is expected to vote on the plan today or tomorrow.

Photo courtesy of iStock

While the details of further cuts remains unclear, federal economists released their predictions on the growth of U.S. health care spending. Not surprisingly, health spending growth was low last year, due to the impact of the recession. And even in 2014, when many Affordable Care Act provisions kick in, the rate of spending growth is predicted to be just 2%  over the average annual growth rate for the rest of the decade.

In related news, a repeal to the unpopular Independent Payment Advisory board has gained bipartisan support. For details on that and more, listen to this week’s Policy & Practice podcast.

Check back next week for more on the fallout from the debt agreement and health reform implementation.

—Frances Correa (@FMCReporting on Twitter)

Examining the IPAB: The Policy & Practice Podcast

The Independent Payment Advisory Board, the new panel that will be charged with reducing the growth in Medicare spending, was the focus of intense debate on Capitol Hill last week. In the July 18 edition of the Policy & Practice podcast, we have all the details on the two House hearings held on the panel and why physicians are worried about its impact.

The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) was created under the Affordable Care Act to help keep Medicare spending under control. But most physician groups are calling on Congress to scrap the board or substantially change how it operates. Opponents, who include the American Medical Association, say that if the IPAB goes forward, physicians would be subject to two levels of cuts: one from the IPAB and one from Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. Physicians are already facing a nearly 30% Medicare fee cut next year from the SGR unless Congress steps in.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius tours Frager’s Hardware Store in Washington, D.C., before an event to announce new rules on health insurance exchanges. HHS photo by Chris Smith.

This week’s Policy & Practice podcast also has news on the new federal regulations for how states can set up health insurance exchanges. Those exchanges, which aim to make it easier for Americans to buy insurance, are slated to be up and running by 2014. And check out the podcast for the latest on the debt ceiling negotiations and how Medicare could be affected.

Take a listen and share your thoughts:

Check back with us next week for more on the debt ceiling legislation and the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations on what preventive services health plans should cover for women.

— Mary Ellen Schneider (on Twitter @MaryEllenNY)