Panel of bureaucrats would ration healthcare for all, limiting Americans’ right to spend their OWN money on medical care.

(Alexandria, Virginia) — Despite failed attempts in the past by Congress to have the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) struck from Obamacare, a shift in stance among former Democrat supporters warrants a renewed effort for IPAB repeal says 60 Plus Chairman Jim Martin, leader of the nation’s largest conservative seniors organization and acknowledged alternative to the liberal AARP.

The shift was signaled by a recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal by former Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean, who stated that IPAB “will fail” as he called it “essentially a rationing body,” a.k.a. ‘death panel’ that will especially hurt seniors on Medicare.  IPAB further empowers the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to impose ‘quality’ and ‘efficiency’ measures to keep a lid on private healthcare spending as well.  This means procedures approved by a physician and fully paid for out of a patient’s own pocket could be denied.

Said Martin, “While I wish it had happened sooner, I’m glad to see more in Washington are recognizing IPAB for what it is — a death panel that will hurt seniors by slashing Medicare and imposing rationing on the entire medical industry.  The American people don’t want anonymous, unaccountable bureaucrats deciding what care they can and can’t receive, that must remain between the patient and doctor.

“Now that the horrible reality of Obamacare is starting to hit home with the American people with each passing day, it is time to take action in a bi-partisan manner and repeal IPAB and set America free from this horrendous rationing body.  To do otherwise is unconscionable.”

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