Concord Coalition Releases Issue Brief on Administration's IMA...( WASHINGTON July 31 -- ...),Health

WASHINGTON, July 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Concord Coalition today published an issue brief entitled "The Importance of a Cost Control Enforcement Entity In Health Care Reform Legislation." The issue brief focuses on President Obama's proposed Independent Medicare Advisory Council (IMAC). The proposal would establish an independent panel of health care experts who would routinely review Medicare spending and provide recommendations aimed at increasing efficiency. The Council's recommendations would be implemented as a package upon approval from the President -- subject to Congress passing a joint resolution disapproving of the changes.

The Concord Coalition believes that adding this continual review process to any of the current health care reform packages would provide a mechanism for controlling rising health care costs over the long-term. Whether achieved through the administration's IMAC or a "Super MedPAC" design, the concept represents a significant process reform likely to facilitate the types of decisions needed to improve our long-term fiscal outlook.

To read the brief in its entirety, visit: http://www.concordcoalition.org/issue-briefs/2009/0731/importance-cost-control-enforcement-entity-health-care-reform-legislation

The Concord Coalition is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to balanced federal budgets and generationally responsible fiscal policy. Former U.S. Senators Warren Rudman (R-NH) and Bob Kerrey (D-NE) serve as Concord's co-chairs and former Secretary of Commerce Peter Peterson serves as president.