Tiberi highlights need for Medicare reforms in subcommittee hearing

U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH) raised concerns about the impact of “overbearing regulations” on Medicare providers during a subcommittee hearing on Thursday that looked at ways to preserve and strengthen senior health care.

Tiberi, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, convened the hearing to review Medicare programs that are slated to lapse before 2018, and to identify opportunities to make improvements to safeguard taxpayer dollars and ensure quality care for seniors.

“Meeting with Medicare providers around my district and state, a resounding concern that I have heard is that overbearing regulations are increasingly burdening providers and seem to be driving out and discouraging small providers. I’m worried about the direction we’re heading,” Tiberi said. “I am hopeful that my colleagues on Ways and Means Committee and in Congress can work with the new administration to spur innovation and reduce regulatory burdens across the Medicare program.”

Tiberi heard testimony from Mark Miller, executive director of the nonpartisan Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), who acknowledged that some health care spending is inefficient.

“For Medicare, eliminating such spending would result in improved beneficiary health, greater fiscal sustainability for the program, and reduced federal budget pressures,” Miller said.

The commission has a framework to address inefficient spending that focuses on payment accuracy, care coordination and quality, information for patients and providers, engaged beneficiaries, and an aligned health care workforce, according to Miller’s written testimony.

Republicans on the Health Subcommittee also are focused on finding solutions to increase efficiency in Medicare—specifically as it relates to payment policies, including post-acute care settings.

Miller said across post-acute care settings, if update recommendations made this year were to be implemented, fee for service program spending would be reduced by more than $30 billion, according to estimates.

Miller also highlighted the expiring Medicare extenders. “Extending these programs has a cost and every time we spend money, we are making a decision not to fund another priority,” Tiberi said.

The congressman noted there are many areas that are in need of reform within Medicare. “It is time we take the next steps in improving the Medicare program,” Tiberi said. “As the committee continues to look for ways to reform Medicare, the commission’s insights and analysis will be very valuable.”

Meanwhile, health care spending continues to grow. National health care spending grew at an average annual rate of 5.6 percent from 2013 to 2015, while Medicare spending grew at an average annual rate of 4.6 percent during that period.