House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Wally Herger (R-CA) today announced that the Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing to examine how the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) will impact the Medicare program, its beneficiaries, and health care providers.  The hearing will take place on Tuesday, March 6, 2012, in 1100 Longworth House Office Building, beginning… Read more

We are meeting today to hear from those who will be directly and adversely impacted by the so-called “Independent Payment Advisory Board” or “IPAB.”  In an era where the two political parties are best known for their deep divisions, this is one area where there appears to be bipartisan concern. IPAB was created in the Democrats’ health care overhaul, and is designed to “reduce the… Read more

According to the Administration’s own budget, the cost of ObamaCare subsidies has jumped by $111 billion from just last year.  When Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) recently asked what the reason was for the massive increase in cost to taxpayers, Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius said, “I really don’t know.”  Although they have yet to officially… Read more

Buried in Section 3403 of ObamaCare is a powerful board of unelected bureaucrats, the so-called “Independent Payment Advisory Board” (IPAB), whose sole job will be to save money by restricting access to health care for Medicare beneficiaries.  IPAB is required to achieve specified savings in years where Medicare spending is deemed “too high,” according to the Democrats’ health care… Read more

Washington, DC - Today, Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner asking the department to provide a detailed explanation for its projected $111 billion increase in spending for health insurance exchange subsidies (premium tax credits) in the Democrats’ health care law.  The increase, which was included in the FY2013 budget… Read more

Today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will testify before the Ways and Means Committee on the President’s FY 2013 budget proposal.  While the Administration’s budget proposal calls for another $1.3 billion in spending just to implement what a majority of Americans have determined is an unconstitutional health care law, the Obama Administration seems content to… Read more

Secretary Sebelius, thank you for joining us today for a discussion of the President’s 2013 Budget.   An Administration’s budget is a reflection of its priorities and vision for the country.  I am disappointed to say that in reviewing the Health and Human Services (HHS) budget for Fiscal Year 2013, I find myself asking, “Where’s the leadership?  Where’s the plan? … Read more

Today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius directly contradicted the position of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) case that bears her own name.  Responding to a question from Rep. Tom Reed (NY-29), the Secretary claimed that the individual mandate is "not per se a tax."  That may come as a huge surprise to the U.S. Department of Justice, which will make the… Read more

Washington, DC - Today, Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) made the following statements in response to President Obama's 2013 budget proposal. On Taxes & the Economy “The President’s budget includes the biggest tax increase in history and the biggest budget deficit ever proposed.  The President’s $2 trillion tax increase will destroy jobs and further weaken our… Read more

Washington, DC - Today, Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI), who is leading the conference committee to resolve differences between the House and Senate on the payroll tax holiday, unemployment benefits and the Medicare “doc-fix,” issued the following statement:   “I have spoken with my fellow House Republican conferees and we are committed to resolving the differences between… Read more