AMA shout out aimed at scrapping payment advisory board

Legislation aimed at eliminating the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) has garnered strong praise from the American Medical Association (AMA).

“IPAB is a panel that would have too little accountability and the power to make indiscriminate cuts that adversely affect access to healthcare for patients,” according to a statement issued by AMA President Jeremy A. Lazarus, MD. Rep. Phil Roe, MD, recently introduced legislation in the House.

“Patients and physicians are still struggling with the frequent threat of drastic cuts from the broken [sustainable growth rate] Medicare physician payment formula. IPAB would be another arbitrary system that relies solely on payment cuts,” Lazarus added. “We must move away from these broken systems and focus on new payment and delivery models that give physicians the ability to improve patient care and reduce costs to stabilize Medicare for seniors now and in the future. We appreciate the leadership of Reps. Roe and Allyson Schwartz on this important issue and look forward to working with them and other bipartisan cosponsors to see this legislation passed.”