MICKEY KAUS: “Arguments in favor of Obamacare’s appointed, cost-cutting ‘Independent Payment Advisory Board’–like this effort from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities–would be a lot more persuasive if they gave at least one (1) concrete example of ineffective health spending the IPAB will eliminate to achieve its cost target. We’re assured the ‘board may not make recommendations to ration health care, cut benefits, increase premiums and cost sharing, or restrict eligibility’ for Medicare. Good to hear! (And we know they would never try to finesse the definition of ‘ration.’) So what would they recommend?”

Plus this: “If I were trying to repeal IPAB, I’d xerox the CBPP brief and send it to everyone in Congress. Much of it is devoted to the argument that IPAB won’t really cut much because it probably ‘will not be needed’ to achieve Obamacare’s cost-cutting goals. But if it isn’t needed . . .”