Republican senators say there should be a PPACA watchdog who digs into the law and ensures proper implementation.
GOP Sens. Pat Roberts, Kansas, and Rob Portman, Ohio, introduced a bill last week that would create an Office of the Special Inspector General for Monitoring the Affordable Care Act.
Though there already is an inspector general in the Department of Health and Human Services, Roberts said in a statement he wanted to create a position that could investigate PPACA's "implementation and ensure our taxpayer dollars are being spent within the letter of the law." The position also would coordinate watchdog efforts across the federal government.
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"While all of the federal agencies charged with implementing Obamacare have their own Offices of the Inspector General, they are all investigating this law in their own silos," Roberts said in a statement. "The Health and Human Services Inspector General isn't talking to the Treasury IG, or the Department of Labor IG, or the Homeland Security IG."
Specifically, Roberts said, the watchdog could investigate PPACA components including the employer mandate, the effectiveness and security of HealthCare.gov, increasing premiums and the IRS's role in calculating subsidy overpayments.
Identical legislation also was introduced in the House by Congressman Peter J. Roskam, R-Illinois.
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