Congressman Paulsen Posts Views on Medicare and Asian Carp

Protecting Seniors and Strengthening Medicare

One provision in the President's new healthcare law that has been the focus of continued and vocal opposition from the healthcare community, seniors, veterans, and consumers is the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).

IPAB is a powerful new board of 15 unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats whose task will be to save Medicare money by setting reimbursement rates for specific procedures – giving them the power to severely limit seniors’ access to treatments and healthcare services. The law requires no public comment or transparency prior to an IPAB decision and prohibits judicial review.

The most unifying feature of the new board is the strong bipartisan support to repeal it. Our seniors deserve better than having a group of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats getting in between them and their doctor. This week, I joined a majority of my colleagues in the House in voting to repeal this board, and preserve the doctor-patient relationship in Medicare. 

Instead, we should strengthen and secure Medicare to protect our seniors and ensure that the program is solvent for future generations. In order to tackle the serious challenges the program is beginning to face, we need to work in a bipartisan way on sensible solutions. 

View my floor remarks in support of IPAB repeal. 

Watch my recent Fox News interview where I discuss IPAB repeal. 

Highlighting Asian Carp Threat at University of Minnesota's St. Anthony Falls Laboratory 

Last Monday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and I visited the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam in Minneapolis to call attention to the spread of Asian carp in Minnesota lakes and water ways. We were joined by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Deputy Commissioner Dave Schad on a visit to the University of Minnesota's St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, where researchers are developing new ways to prevent the spread of this newest invasive species. 

Asian Carp can grow to a length of more than 4 feet, weigh up to 110 pounds, and eat as much as 20 percent of their body weight daily. These fish are a threat to our ecosystem of over 158 different species of fish, Minnesota's economy and its $11 billion tourism industry, and the thousands of Minnesotans whose livelihood depend on our lakes, rivers and streams. In fact, tourism and fishing is Minnesota's fifth largest industry. 

Recently, I joined fellow Minnesota lawmakers  in proposing legislation that would allow the Army Corp of Engineers to close the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam if necessary to help stop the spread of the invasive carp. We need to protect Minnesota's great natural resources for future generations.