Congressman Mike Pence

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of H.R. 5, the Protecting Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act. His remarks are below:

"I rise in support of the Protecting Access to Health Care Act. This bill will take an important step forward in dismantling the government takeover of health care that was passed by this body some two years ago. The PATH Act would essentially repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board included in ObamaCare, and I strongly support it.

"Now, quite frankly, the IPAB -- that is the acronym that's been used often on the floor in this debate -- is probably something that most Americans are unfamiliar with. But they deserve to know that buried in Section 3403 of ObamaCare, there is a powerful board of unelected bureaucrats -- this so-called Independent Payment Advisory Board -- whose sole job would be to save money by restricting access to health care for Medicare beneficiaries. That's the purpose of IPAB.

"IPAB is required to achieve specific savings in years when Medicare spending is deemed to be too high. It will lead inexorably to rationing; it will take medical decisions out of the hands of doctors and patients; and it will reduce patient choice unambiguously.

"Furthermore, ObamaCare doesn't even require that IPAB do all of this in the public domain. There is no requirement that IPAB hold public meetings or hearings, consider public input on its proposal, or make its deliberations open and to the public. Unaccountable Washington bureaucrats meeting behind closed doors to make unilateral decisions that should be made by patients and doctors is unacceptable and this IPAB must be repealed.

"You know, it was two years ago that we passed this government takeover of health care into law. It's important to note that the first act in this Congress in January 2011 was a full repeal of ObamaCare.

"You will never convince me that the federal government under the Constitution has the authority to order the American people to buy health insurance whether they want it, need it or not.

"My hope is in the days ahead, the Supreme Court will come to that conclusion. I believe we must not rest, we must not relent until we repeal ObamaCare lock, stock and barrel; but for now let's take the path that is before us. Let's pass the Protect Access to Healthcare Act and let's repeal this onerous Independent Payment Advisory Board once and for all."

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