Republicans Hold Hearings on Eliminating IPAB

House Republicans are holding two hearings this week on the topic of eliminating the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). The first hearing will be Tuesday at the House Budget Committee. The second hearing will be Wednesday at the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will testify in support of the IPAB at both hearings. IPAB is designed to depoliticize difficult Medicare decision and hold lawmakers accountable but critics argue that it will ration care.