GOP opens Medicare hearing with assault on health law's cost-cutting board

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) opened a hearing on Medicare's future Tuesday by blasting the health law's approach to cutting federal health costs.

The renewed criticism of the law's Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) leaves little doubt that House Republicans intend to repeal the board as early as next month, in conjunction with oral arguments at the Supreme Court. 

On the path set by the president's budget proposal, Ryan said in opening remarks, "[T]he fate of seniors' care is left in the hands of 15 unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats in Washington.

"These bureaucrats are empowered to cut Medicare in ways that will result in restricted access and denied care for current seniors. Meanwhile, this path leaves Medicare bankrupt for future generations."

The IPAB repeal effort gained new momentum on Monday when Ways and Means health panel member Bill Pascrell (D-N.J) became the 17th Democrat to sign onto the House repeal bill. And in the Senate, repeal sponsor John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced legislation earlier this month that's paid for by making people repay their health law subsidies if an income increase changes their eligibility status.

Ryan highlighted the IPAB, which Republicans refer to as a "rationing board," to champion his own "premium support" approach of giving seniors subsidies to buy private insurance.

However, Democrats and many healthcare experts say Ryan's approach would shift more healthcare spending onto seniors.

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