Those people following the news know that Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on how to save Medicare. However, since the program is more than $24 trillion in debt, we can all agree that our elected officials have to do something to get spending under control.

The president has a plan that’s part of the new health care law. It’s called the Independent Payment Advisory Board. Starting in 2014, the president will appoint 15 people to serve on the IPAB and make recommendations such that Medicare hits predetermined spending targets.

IPAB’s recommendations will then, essentially, bypass Congress to become law, and there is no process for citizens or doctors to challenge the board’s decisions.

Even worse, IPAB is likely to reduce Medicare’s payments to doctors well beyond recent cuts. Medicare already pays below market rates, making it difficult for seniors to find doctors who are able to accept Medicare. IPAB will only worsen the existing doctor shortage.

Democrats and Republicans alike are sponsoring efforts to repeal IPAB. The two parties don’t agree on much when it comes to health care, but increasingly they agree IPAB is a bad idea.

Joel Kase, DO, MPH, Lewiston