Calling Gary Palmer: Broad coalition asks for congressman’s support to repeal Obamacare board

By
Apryl Marie Fogel
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61
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On May 5, more than 500 diverse groups came together to sign a letter urging members of Congress to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). The IPAB has been a constant target of conservatives since Obamacare was passed.

The Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act of 2015, U.S. House Bill 1190, repeals the IPAB board and is expected to come to the floor this week with 235 co-sponsors. From the Alabama delegation U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt, Mo Brooks, Bradley Byrne and Martha Roby are co-sponsors. Missing from the list is Rep. Gary Palmer. The letter asks Palmer to join the rest of the delegation in co-sponsoring the bill before the vote.

A Palmer spokesman said the congressman is, “Inclined to support the bill. He favors repealing Obamacare, however, he does not co-sponsor every bill that he supports.”

That’s not stopping concerned groups from pressuring him.

Ann Eubank from the Rainy Day Patriots, one signer of the coalition letter said, “As a senior, I am encouraged that our Alabama Republican congressional delegation is co-sponsoring, and voting for, HR 1190. This bill gets rid if the onerous bureaucratic board called the ‘death panel’ that restricts access to Medicare coverage for us. I don’t need anyone but my doctor deciding what medical treatment I need.”

Having worked for a member of the Congressional Doctors Caucus before moving to Alabama, I have spoken with many in the health-care profession about the issue. Doctors and hospital administrators know firsthand the disastrous effects that the IPAB would have on the affordability and access of health care in our nation, and it’s important we listen to them.

Palmer is my congressman and I join the calls to ask him to support and vote for this important piece of legislation.

The letter 2015 HLC IPAB Repeal Letter says in part:

The undersigned organizations – representing Medicare beneficiaries and patients, all sectors of the healthcare industry as well as employers and other purchasers of care – believe strongly that the Medicare program must protect patient access to quality healthcare. The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), not only poses a threat to that access but also, once activated, will shift healthcare costs to consumers in the private sector and infringe upon the decisionmaking responsibilities and prerogatives of the Congress. We request your support to repeal IPAB.

 

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61 COMMENTS

  43. Should we get rid of Insurance Companies too? They do the same thing as well as denying care to their members, therefore signing their death warrants. Just saying.

  44. When Congress cannot pass legislation to permit/allow the government to negotiate drug prices for Medicare prescriptions, there is not hope for any program that is anything but a handout to the lobbying industry and their employers. Of course, our elected Representatives are sworn to represent their constituents -NOT!

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