WASHINGTON – Coalition to Protect Patients Rights (CPPR) spokesman Donald J. Palmisano, MD, today applauded members of the House of Representatives for passing a measure meant to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a Medicare cost-cutting panel.

“House Representatives who voted to repeal IPAB have started an important process in Washington meant to protect American seniors from harmful cuts to the Medicare program," said Dr. Palmisano. "IPAB will be made up of 15 unelected bureaucrats who will have unprecedented power to cut Medicare every year when spending exceeds targeted growth rates. In the short term, the Board’s cuts could result in a dearth of doctors willing to serve Medicare patients, leaving seniors unable to access the care they need. In the long term, IPAB could end up blatantly rationing medical care, just like the National Institute of Health Clinical Excellence in Great Britain (NICE)."

Dr. Palmisano also called on other lawmakers to follow the House’s lead:

“It is vital that efforts to repeal IPAB do not end here, and members of the Senate must send this bill to the President’s desk immediately. Controlling costs in Medicare is undoubtedly important, but this responsibility belongs to elected legislators, as unaccountable bureaucrats may not be primarily concerned with the well being of seniors who depend on Medicare to stay healthy.” I hope Senators and the President acknowledge this, and finish the process of eliminating IPAB as soon as possible."

The Coalition to Protect Patients Rights worked hard to achieve patient-centered health care reform during the course of the health care debate, staunchly opposing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act due to its failure to protect patients’ rights.

Bio: Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD, FACS, is spokesman for the Coalition to Protect Patients Rights and a former President of the American Medical Association. He is the founder and president of Intrepid Resources®/The Medical Risk Manager Company. Prior to this, Dr. Palmisano was part of a six member surgical team that served the people in eastern New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina destroyed the area in 2005. He completed his internship and surgery residency at Tulane and Charity Hospital and is a graduate of Tulane Medical School and Loyola Law School. He served for two years in active duty in the United States Air Force as a Major and Chief of Surgery for the 821st Medical Group. Dr. Palmisano and his wife, Robin, currently reside in Metairie, LA, and have three children and six grandchildren.
 
About the Coalition to Protect Patients’ Rights
The Coalition to Protect Patients Rights is a non-partisan, grassroots coalition made up of doctors, health care providers, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens who are dedicated to the implementation of patient-centered health care reform that will improve patient care.