▁Committee ▁included ▁a ▁provision ▁establish ing ▁an ▁independent ▁Medic are ▁advis ory ▁board ▁in ▁its ▁health ▁reform ▁legisl ation , ▁which ▁passed ▁the ▁Senate ▁on ▁December ▁ 2 4 , ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁ ▁Mission ▁IP AB ▁was ▁task ed ▁with ▁developing ▁specific ▁propos als ▁to ▁bring ▁the ▁net ▁growth ▁in ▁Medic are ▁sp ending ▁back ▁to ▁target ▁levels ▁if ▁the ▁Medic are ▁Act u ary ▁determ ines ▁that ▁net ▁sp ending ▁was ▁forec ast ▁to ▁exceed ▁target ▁levels , ▁beginning ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 5 . ▁ ▁With ▁regard ▁to ▁IP AB ' s ▁recommend ations , ▁the ▁law ▁said : ▁" The ▁proposal ▁shall ▁not ▁include ▁any ▁recommendation ▁to ▁r ation ▁health ▁care , ▁raise ▁reven ues ▁or ▁Medic are ▁benef ici ary ▁prem iums ▁under ▁section ▁ 1 8 1 8 , ▁ 1 8 1 8 A , ▁or ▁ 1 8 3 9 , ▁increase ▁Medic are ▁benef ici ary ▁cost ▁sharing ▁( including ▁ded uct ibles , ▁co ins urance , ▁and ▁co - pay ments ), ▁or ▁otherwise ▁restrict ▁benefits ▁or ▁modify ▁el ig ibility ▁criteria ." ▁The ▁Department ▁of ▁Health ▁and ▁Human ▁Services ▁( H HS ) ▁was ▁to ▁implement ▁these ▁propos als ▁unless ▁Congress ▁adopted ▁equally ▁effective ▁alternatives . ▁The ▁board ▁was ▁also ▁to ▁be ▁required ▁to ▁submit ▁to ▁Congress ▁annual ▁reports ▁on ▁health ▁care ▁costs , ▁access , ▁quality , ▁and ▁util ization . ▁IP AB ▁was ▁to ▁submit ▁to ▁Congress ▁recommend ations ▁on ▁how ▁to ▁slow ▁the ▁growth