| 00:00:00 | UNDER THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. |
| 00:00:03 | THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SIMPLY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE. |
| 00:00:05 | THESE ARE UNELECTED BOARD MEMBERS, 15 OF THEM APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT, TASKED WITH FINDING SAVINGS AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS. |
| 00:00:14 | UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THE LIMITATIONS WHAT THE BOARD CAN CUT, THE MAJORITY OF SPENDING REDUCTIONS WILL CUTTING REIMBURSEMENTS FROM DOCTORS AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR MEDICARE PATIENTS. |
| 00:00:24 | THE ULTIMATE RESULT WILL BE FEWER OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE DRIVEN OUT OF THE MEDICARE SYSTEM. |
| 00:00:29 | -- WHEN DOCTORS ARE DRIVEN OUT OF THE MEDICARE SYSTEM. |
| 00:00:31 | WE WERE TOLD WHEN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WAS PASSED THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN PREMIUMS. |
| 00:00:37 | IT'S DONE EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE. |
| 00:00:38 | THIS KIND OF BOARD AND THESE KIND OF DECISIONS MADE BY UN ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL SIMPLY DRIVE THE COSTS UP FURTHER, AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THAT. |
| 00:00:48 | MY ONLY REGRET IN TODAY'S ACTION IS THAT WE ARE NOT REPEALING THE ENTIRE ACT, AND I HOPE THAT COMES SOON. |
| 00:00:54 | I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. |
| 00:00:55 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA RISE? |
| 00:00:58 | >> MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:01:01 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: |
Mr. FLAKE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the legislation we'll vote on shortly to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board created under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This is something that simply should not have been done. These are unelected board members, 15 of them, appointed by the President, tasked for finding savings and making recommendations.
Unfortunately, because of the limitations of what the board can cut, the majority of spending reductions will come from cutting reimbursements for doctors and those who care for Medicare patients. The ultimate result will be fewer options for patients when doctors are driven out of the Medicare system.
We were told when the Affordable Care Act was passed that it would lead to a reduction in premiums. It's done exactly the opposite.
This kind of board and these kinds of decisions made by unelected officials will simply drive the cost up further, and we cannot afford to do that.
My only regret in today's action is that we're not repealing the entire act. I hope that comes soon.
END