October 31, 2017

U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.  20515

Dear Representative,

You will soon consider H.R. 849, the Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act of 2017, sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.).  On behalf of the more than one million members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW), I urge you to vote in favor of this legislation.

H.R. 849 amends the Affordable Care Act to terminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).  As you may know, IPAB was set up to consist of 15 members who would have the ability to make changes to the Medicare program when Medicare spending rises above a targeted growth rate established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Actuary.  Repealing IPAB would put an end to its unchecked autonomy and power, including the ability to control prices and ration health care.  H.R. 849 has strong bipartisan support in the House, with 267 Democratic and Republican cosponsors.

Additional information on why IPAB should be repealed can be found in CCAGW Health and Science Director Elizabeth Wright’s October 28 Washington Examiner op-ed.  All votes on H.R. 849 will be among those considered for CCAGW’s 2017 Congressional Ratings.

Sincerely,

Tom Schatz
President, CCAGW

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