Sebelius Defends Advisory Panel on Medicare Spending
"Contrary to critics' contentions," the Independent Payment Advisory Board's "work will be transparent, independent and accountable to Congress and the president," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius writes in a Politico opinion piece. IPAB was created under the federal health reform law to make recommendations on reducing Medicare spending growth. Sebelius writes that there are built-in restrictions on what IPAB can recommend, adding, "It is expressly prohibited from making recommendations that ration care, raise premiums, reduce benefits or change eligibility for Medicare."
- "IPAB Will Protect Medicare" (Sebelius, Politico, 6/23).