Ethan Rome

Hyperbolic conservative partisans repeatedly (and deliberately) mislabel the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) as an “unaccountable rationing board” or “the real death panel.” Only in Washington could an expert panel on the critical issue of affordable health care for seniors and people with disabilities beconsidered a threat to liberty.

Congress needs the IPAB for this simple reason: Without it, Congress isn't likely to propose real solutions to control Medicare costs without hurting seniors, and if they did, they probably would not act on them. The IPAB addresses both of these problems.

The ACA established IPAB as a panel of experts—each one individually confirmed by the Senate—to recommend options for controlling costs when Medicare cost growth exceeds the budgeted target. In other words, when benefit costs rise, Medicare experts will be asked why that happened and what Congress should do about it. But there will be str

Given how little Speaker John Boehner, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and other top Republicans have done on this issue, one can only speculate on what a GOP replacement plan would look like. The Republicans have not devoted any time or effort to making health care more affordable or accessible for America's seniors, families and businesses.

Instead they have focused all of their attention on trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act and eliminate Medicare and Medicaid as we know them. From the little we've seen of actual proposals, the GOP would give our health care back to the insurance companies so they can deny our care and jack up our premium rates whenever they want – and stick struggling families with the tab. Apparently, if the Republicans have their way, consumers will be able to cross state lines to buy policies that provide less care and leave them with huge medical bills. Regardless of what the Supreme Court does, I'm not expecting much from the GOP.

The president has a powerful story to tell the country about the importance of health security to America’s middle class and why we have to stop the Republican assault on Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA is an extraordinary accomplishment and is already making a huge difference in people’s lives by making health care more affordable for families and businesses and providing cost-saving benefits and protections for consumers. Along with Social Security, these bedrock programs make our people healthier and our society more just. They are key to everyone in this country having a fair shot at achieving the American Dream.

In his State of the Union address, President Obama can use plenty of examples. Thanks to the ACA, 2.5 million young adults were able to obtain health coverage this past year. The worst practices of big insurance companies, including denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, are now against the law. Health care is becoming more affordable for small businesses and seniors on Medicare. When fully implemented the law

President Obama says he will veto any proposal that cuts Medicare benefits without asking the richest Americans and corporations to pay their fair share and help the nation make real progress on the deficit.

The President also made it clear that if there are changes made to Medicare and Medicaid, they must not betray the fundamental commitment our country has made to the seniors, people with disabilities and children who benefit from both programs.

We’re skeptical that Republicans will drop their extremist ideology regarding these programs.

The Republicans have staked out their position and dug in pretty deep. The want to eliminate Medicare and Medicaid as we know it. The want to strip seniors of new drug benefits and preventive care provided by the Affordable Care Act. The Republican Ryan budget would raise costs for Medicare beneficiaries by more than $6,000 in its first year. The average Medicare beneficiary's contribution to the cost of Medicare benefits would skyrocket from 25 percent under the existing system to an astonishi