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Trump administration may have to convene board that inspired ‘death panel’ fears

Experts have warned that data expected as soon as this week could trigger the establishment of a panel of experts charged with reducing Medicare payments.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price.

Remember “death panels”? They may be back.

As soon as Thursday, Trump administration officials may have to launch the process that inspired that phrase — and that is aimed at making cuts to Medicare.

Under Obamacare, a provision calls for the establishment of a wonky board of experts to reduce how much Medicare pays doctors or other health professionals — or even how much the program pays for prescription drugs — if Medicare spending surpasses a certain rate of growth.

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