Cole Applauds Repeal of Medicare Rationing Board

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the House of Representatives approved the Protecting Access to Healthcare Act (PATH), H.R. 5. The legislation would repeal provisions in President Obama's Affordable Care Act to establish the “Independent Payment Advisory Board” (IPAB), a 15-member panel of unelected bureaucrats granted authority to determine cuts to Medicare. The bill would also help lower health care costs by implementing sensible medical liability reform.

"The Democratic plan to give an unelected, unaccountable board of bureaucrats the authority to cut Medicare services is one of the single most egregious mandates in President Obama's health care law. Medical decisions should be made by Medicare patients and their doctors -- not by a panel of government appointees selected by the president. By repealing this outrageous policy, House Republicans will protect seniors' access to health care and come one step closer to abolishing the president's deeply unpopular law.

"This legislation also helps make health care more affordable by implementing common sense medical liability reform. The PATH Act demonstrates that health care is more accessible and affordable when patients have control -- not the federal government."