Press Releases

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) released the following statement on H.R. 351, the Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act.  The legislation was introduced today by Congressman Phil Roe (R-TN) to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.  Griffith is one of 83 original bipartisan cosponsors of the legislation being spearheaded by Roe and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-PA).  In the 112^th Congress, similar legislation to repeal the IPAB had over 230 bipartisan cosponsors. 

“I want to thank Dr. Phil Roe (R-TN) and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) for their leadership and continued efforts to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB),” Griffith said.  “Since its beginning, I have been troubled by the creation of this board, which would give authority to 15 unelected bureaucrats who have the power to decide what treatment is provided through Medicare.  I look forward to continue working alongside Dr. Roe, Congresswoman Schwartz, and other members of the House to achieve commonsense solutions which will replace the most harmful parts of the Affordable Care Act and improve access to quality care.”

Roe said, “I am proud to reintroduce this important legislation.  As a physician with more than 30 years of experience, I find the ability of this board to intervene in the patient-doctor relationship particularly troubling.  I believe my bill is a testament to the fact that members of Congress can put party politics aside, come together and do what’s right for our seniors.  I will continue to push for a full repeal of the IPAB, and I look forward to working with my colleagues—both Republicans and Democrats—to protect and preserve Medicare.”