S. 251 – Protecting Medicare from Executive Action Act of 2017

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:19 PM UTC

The Protecting Medicare from Executive Action Act of 2017 seeks to eliminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) so it can no longer influence Medicare benefits. By removing the board and related statutory references, the bill aims to keep Medicare entitlement levels unchanged for current and future beneficiaries.

Key Provisions

Repeals the law that created the Independent Payment Advisory Board (Section 1899A of the Social Security Act).
Deletes a provision that set a lobbying cooling‑off period related to the board.
Eliminates a requirement for a Government Accountability Office study and report about the board.
Amends the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) review rules to remove references to the board.
Repeals two sections of the Affordable Care Act that dealt with the board’s name and how it should be interpreted.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

February 1, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 1, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

February 1, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 1, 2017

II

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 251

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 1, 2017

Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Heinrich, and Ms. Stabenow) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board in order to ensure that it cannot be used to undermine the Medicare entitlement for beneficiaries.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting Medicare from Executive Action Act of 2017.

2.

Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board

(a)

Repeal

Section 1899A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395kkk) is repealed.

(b)

Conforming amendments

(1)

Lobbying cooling-off period

Paragraph (3) of section 207(c) of title 18, United States Code, is repealed.

(2)

GAO study and report

Section 3403(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 1395kkk–1) is repealed.

(3)

MedPAC review and comment

Section 1805(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395b–6(b)) is amended—

(A)

by striking paragraph (4);

(B)

by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (8) as paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively; and

(C)

by redesignating the paragraph (9) that was redesignated by section 3403(c)(1) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111–148) as paragraph (8).

(4)

Name change

Section 10320(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111–148) is repealed.

(5)

Rule of construction

Section 10320(c) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111–148) is repealed.