THE OBAMACARE "COMMITTEE"

One frequently hears about a committee (panel or board) in Obamacare that is going to make judgements about what benefits you will get.  Most recently Mitt Romney made the complaint in the first presidential election debate.  The committee is actually called the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) or, originally the Independent Medicare Advisory Board.  This IPAB is explicitly restricted to making savings without affecting rationing, beneficiary costs, coverage or quality of care , but is given the task of meeting certain goals as to the cost of Medicare.*  Furthermore Congress can overrule the Board with a supermajority vote, but then must find the savings elsewhere.*  Lastly the IPAB consists of 15 members appointed by the president but subject to congressional confirmation.*  The President must consult with the Majority Leader of the Senate on the appointment of three members, the Speaker of the House of Representatives on appointment of three others, and then consult for three each with the Minority Leaders of these two bodies.*  This leaves three to be appointed by the Administration as ex-officio non-voting members.*  The members will serve six years in staggered terms.*

The obfuscation of the real IPAB purpose is, of course, done for political reasons.  IPAB in fact replaces a previous Medicare Payment Advisory Committee (Med Pac) whose recommendation of cuts to Medicare have been ignored by Congress.*  You are advised to read the entire article in Wikipedia.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Payment_Advisory_Board)