April 11 05 Ailing Health Care

September 28th, 2011

Click on the Original:
www.nytimes.com/2005/04/11/opinion/11krugman4.html?hp

Ailing Health Care
By Paul Krugman
The New York Times

Monday 11 April 2005

Those of us who accuse the administration of inventing a Social Security crisis are often accused, in return, of do-nothingism, of refusing to face up to the nation’s problems. I plead not guilty: America does face a real crisis – but it’s in health care, not Social Security.

Well-informed business executives agree. A recent survey of chief financial officers at major corporations found that 65 percent regard immediate action on health care costs as “very important.” Only 31 percent said the same about Social Security reform.

But serious health care reform isn’t on the table, and in the current political climate it probably can’t be. You see, the health care crisis is ideologically inconvenient.

Let’s start with some basic facts about health care.

Notice that I said “health care reform,” not “Medicare reform.” The rising cost of Medicare may loom large in political discussion, because it’s a government program (and because it’s often, wrongly, lumped together with Social Security by the crisis-mongers), but this isn’t a story of runaway government spending. The costs of Medicare and of private health plans are both rising much faster than G.D.P. per capita, and at about the same rate per enrollee.

So what we’re really facing is rapidly rising spending on health care generally, not just the part of health care currently paid for by taxpayers.

Rising health care spending isn’t primarily the result of medical price inflation. It’s primarily a response to innovation: the range of things that medicine can do keeps increasing. For example, Medicare recently started paying for implanted cardiac devices in many patients with heart trouble, now that research has shown them to be highly effective. This is good news, not bad.

So what’s the problem? Why not welcome medical progress, and consider its costs money well spent? There are three answers.

First, America’s traditional private health insurance system, in which workers get coverage through their employers, is unraveling. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that in 2004 there were at least five million fewer jobs with health insurance than in 2001. And health care costs have become a major burden on those businesses that continue to provide insurance coverage: General Motors now spends about $1,500 on health care for every car it produces.

Second, rising Medicare spending may be a sign of progress, but it still must be paid for – and right now few politicians are willing to talk about the tax increases that will be needed if the program is to make medical advances available to all older Americans.

Finally, the U.S. health care system is wildly inefficient. Americans tend to believe that we have the best health care system in the world. (I’ve encountered members of the journalistic elite who flatly refuse to believe that France ranks much better on most measures of health care quality than the United States.) But it isn’t true. We spend far more per person on health care than any other country – 75 percent more than Canada or France – yet rank near the bottom among industrial countries in indicators from life expectancy to infant mortality.

This last point is, in a way, good news. In the long run, medical progress may force us to make a harsh choice: if we don’t want to become a society in which the rich get life-saving medical treatment and the rest of us don’t, we’ll have to pay much higher taxes. The vast waste in our current system means, however, that effective reform could both improve quality and cut costs, postponing the day of reckoning.

To get effective reform, however, we’ll need to shed some preconceptions – in particular, the ideologically driven belief that government is always the problem and market competition is always the solution.

The fact is that in health care, the private sector is often bloated and bureaucratic, while some government agencies – notably the Veterans Administration system – are lean and efficient. In health care, competition and personal choice can and do lead to higher costs and lower quality. The United States has the most privatized, competitive health system in the advanced world; it also has by far the highest costs, and close to the worst results.

Over the next few weeks I’ll back up these assertions, and talk about what a workable health care reform might look like, if we can get ideology out of the way.

 

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Apr6 Hearing

September 28th, 2011
Universal Health Care Bill, SB-840, Passed First Committee on April 6, 2005.
The following description of the hearing is from Health Access:

The California Health Insurance Reliability Act, SB840(Kuehl), which would institute a statewide, universal health insurance system, was passed out of Senate Banking, Finance, and Insurance Committee, chaired by Senator Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco).

The vote in the committee was 7-4 today, on a straight party-line vote, with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing. The bill is next slated to be heard in the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday April 20th, at 1:30pm. Organizational letters for support are due to the committee Thursday, April 14th by noon.

THE SUPPORT: Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) introduced her bill with both an overview of the health care crisis, and of her bill as a solution to the problem. She pitched the bill as a way to more efficiently use the health care dollars now spent to cover all Californians without many of the financing and access issues that now threaten care for everybody.

To outline the problem, she had a representative of CalPERS, the third-largest purchaser of health care in the country, to give an overview of the problem of rising health care costs, and how addressing these costs is such a challenge for even the most powerful actors in the health care marketplace. A California citizen gave stirring testimony about how she was forced into bankruptcy after a medical emergency, even though she had coverage.

To support the solution, Dr. Richard Quint of California Physicians Alliance described the merits of CHIRA. He was followed by dozens of organizations that stated their support, including: Health Access California, Gray Panthers, SEIU, California Teachers Association, United Nurses Association of California, Resources for Independent Living, Consumers Union, Congress of California Seniors, California School Employees Association, Older Women’s League, Congress of Racial Equality, California Commission on the Status of Women, Friends Committee on Legislation, Vote Health, Health Care for All, National Association of Social Workers, Mental Health Association, Neighbor to Neighbor, Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry, and Progressive Democrats of America.

THE OPPOSITION: The opposition was led by the Chamber of Commerce, which stated their “opposition to a universal, single-payer health care system, stating that they believe it would lead to “higher costs for consumers” and “greater bureaucracy, including several new state agencies and many new state employees. The Chamber “fundamentally disagrees that a government-run system can be more efficient and cost less, and that such a system would be “ripe for cost-overruns that would lead to tax increases.”

Senator Kevin Murray (D-Los Angeles) called the Chamber’s position “disingenuous,” citing that they opposed SB2 because they didn’t want the burden of health coverage on business, yet they also opposed this solution where the cost would be shared throughout society. He asked to be added as a co-author, stating that “I don’t expect this to be more efficient, or provide better care, but more people will get care. We need to figure out a way to cover all the people.”

Senator Speier similarly challenged the Chamber, which admitted under questioning that they have not been supportive of any policies to address rising costs or access to coverage, although they were currently doing an “internal analysis” of what they would support. When Senator Dave Cox (R-Sacramento) raised the issues of low Medicare and Medicaid rates as cost driver, Senator Speier also challenged the Chamber about why they didn’t support increased revenues in order to fund increased provider reimbursements. She was frustrated because the Chamber opposes any health coverage proposal, “and when we do something, you spend $20 million dollars to undo it.”

The National Federation of Independent Businesses also opposed, which cited the vote against a single-payer plan in Oregon, and support of Health Savings Accounts and Association Health Plans. Other opponents included life and health insurers, America’s Health Insurance Plans, HealthNet, the Association of Health Underwriters, California Association of Health Plans, California Medical Association, and the California HealthCare Institute, which made the argument that such a plan would stifle innovation.

OTHER DISCUSSION: Senator Jack Scott (D-Pasadena) agreed that “while people may not like government to run their health care, the 7 million uninsured would like somebody to run their health care.” Responding to opponents claim about waiting times and other issues in Canada, Great Britain, and other countries that have universal health care, the Senator simply pointed out that “they provide all their citizens health care, at a lower cost.” He also referred to their better rates of infant mortality, longevity, and other public health indicators. “If you a wealthy American, we have the best system in the world. If you are poor, we don’t.”

Senators Cox and Jeff Denham (R-Modesto) cited their opposition to the measure, thinking it would create a “more broken system.” Senator Mike Machado (D-Stockton), chair of the Revenue and Taxation Committee, cited his support and said he looked forward to working with Senator Kuehl on the financing piece of the measure. Senator Speier closed the debate by indicating that Medicare is a system that may have problems, but “we don’t have millions of senior citizens without health coverage,” and many seniors are pleased with this “government-run” system.
–
Health Access
1127 11th Street, Suite 234
Sacramento, CA 95814

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2006 California Events

September 28th, 2011
2006 – CALIFORNIA EVENTS to change the health care system!
Return to main California page

EVENTS for ALL Residents of Los Angeles
Congress wants your input at L.A. Convention Center !
Saturday, March 4, 2006 is a landmark
Citizens Health Care Meeting
at the LA Convention Center
As part of the Medicare Drug law, Congress established the Citizens’ Health Care Working Group to engage the American public “in an informed national public debate to make choices about the services they want covered, what health care coverage they want, and how they are willing to pay for coverage.”This group is holding a Los Angeles Health Care Meeting (the ONLY meeting set-to-date for California) at the Los Angeles Convention Center March 4, 2006. You may REGISTER for the Los Angeles March 4, 2006 meeting,http://www.citizenshealthcare.gov/register/

SPEAK OUT — fill in their online questionnaire to tell them the kind of health care system you want:
http://www.citizenshealthcare.gov/speak_out/public_comment.php?pguid=e73766d8-f911-4ad1- af6c-45b2b461cf8f -
OR USE THIS SHORT URL: http://tinyurl.com/8hg7j
The Home Page for this group is www.citizenshealthcare.gov/index.php

 

Hollywood Party – open to all Saturday, April 1, 2006
A fun-filled fund raiser for a Film to Fix HealthCare
Single ticket $35 (tax deductible)

- Congress wants your input at L.A. City Hall !
Citizens Congressional Hearing on HR 676
“Medicare for All – National Healthcare” l
Thursday, February 23, 2006 – 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Los Angeles City Hall
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles 90012

The Congressional panel will include Congresswoman Diane Watson and other
members of Congress and their staff.

Unlike the typical Congressional hearing, this event is being organized by citizens to let our Congressional representatives know how we feel about the healthcare crisis in this country.

Dozens of similar events are being organized around the country. Speakers will discuss HR 676–a bill sponsored by Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan) currently before Congress that would expand Medicare to cover all Americans — public, non-profit universal health coverage that would guarantee a single standard of quality care for all.

California State Senator Sheila Kuehl will speak about California’s example for America,
Calif. Senate Bill 840.

But they want to hear from you. This is your chance to speak out to Congressional representatives about healthcare reform!

Lost your health insurance? Can’t afford the premiums? Outraged at prescription drug costs? Struggling to pay off hospital bills? Or maybe you’re a caregiver or business owner who has seen firsthand the human and financial costs of the current system.

If you would like to testify at the hearing, or to simply attend, or to get more information,
call Joe Newlin (818) 637-7115 or e-mail jnewlin@calnurses.org California Nurses Association

Citizen Congressional Hearing Co-sponsors
o The Actors Fund
o All Saints Church
o American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Los Angeles.
o California Council of Churches
o California Federation of Teachers
o California Nurses Association
o California Partnership
o California Physicians Alliance
o Assemblymember Judy Chu
o Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice
o Ecumenical Council of Southern California
o Educational Opportunity Program/Cal State LA
o Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights
o Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles CityCouncil President
o Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg
o Health Access California
o Health Care for All – California
o Jewish Labor Committee, Western Region
o Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates
o Senator Sheila Kuehl
o Lifetime
o Move On – Pasadena Chapter
o Music for Charity Productions
o Poets of the Round Table
o Poverty Matters
o Progressive Christians Uniting
o Progressive Jewish Alliance
o Rock-aMole Productions
o Bill Rosendahl, Los Angeles City Council District 11
o So. Cal. Americans for Democratic Action
o United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers (UE) District 10
o UE Local 1421
o United Steelworkers of America Local 675
o United Teachers Los Angeles
o Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
o The Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring

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Letters

January 27th, 2011

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS
    “The promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is a lie without universal access to health care.” – - Bradley Whitford, actor

    NOTE: Full names and e-mail addresses have been edited to protect our reader’s privacy.
    Any message over two paragraph will be posted in smaller text to save room on this page.

    From location unknown
    From: “m and v ma*****”
    Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 13:36:28 -0600

    I have heard that if a national healthcare system was implemented in the USA, then everyone who wanted to would simply go to the doctors’ offices and hospitals for relatively no reason at all. There would be long lines and inadequate services, and eventually an upside down pyramid of the sick and dying destroying the economy.  Personally, I believe the above reasons for not having a national healthcare system  are lame at best.  Certain measures can be taken to reduce if not eliminate problems that can come about because of a national healthcare system. In fact, the USA needs to look carefully at the other countries with national healthcare systems and maybe get a hybrid of all the forms. The US is larger than the other countries, so again, a national healthcare system that incorporates the unique needs the US has with the knowledge that the much older countries have can only help in the formation of a good national healthcare system. The federal government does not have to be the sole guardian of the system, it should be part of a checks-and-balance whereby local, state and federal work together. I think this means that pharmacies,hospitals, nursing homes, all healthcare institutes and all medical staff need to work together also.  I am sure that what I am relating is nothing new. I also wanted to share a thought I have about why the USA does not have a national healthcare. The closest the US has to a national healthcare is what is reserved for the military members and the retired military members. If a good national healthcare system were available, who would join the services?    In many respects, some of the flaws described such as long lines, etc. are true in the medical system for the services. Usually this is due to understaffed medical facilities in the branches of services.  There are many issues I do not know about and are completely ignorant of in this search for a better way to address the health of Americans, but I do know that what is in place is akin to a Sanhedrin type beast.

    From Australia
    Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 21:22:23 +1030 (Cen. Australia Standard Time)
    From: colw****@ozemail.com.au
    Subject: Health Care In Australia.

    Having been hospitalized here in Australia several times, I can only heap praise on the Federal Government funded health care system in place here.  I have had extensive out-patient treatment, too, and have had occasion to visit my General Practitioner several times this year. All these services were at no cost to me.  As a 65-year old aged pensioner, I also receive subsidized pharmaceutical benefits providing me with vital medications at a cost of $4.60 per prescription. Of course, this relieves our citizens of the worry of becoming ill and/or requiring hospitalization.  I find it absolutely amazing (and appalling) that Americans can easily face bankruptcy through becoming seriously ill. This, in a country that constantly boasts of having the ‘highest standard of living in the world’ and more millionaires per capita than any other nation on earth!  Universal health insurance schemes do have their faults (what system doesn’t?) but at least the citizens of Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland and several other leading developed nations do not have the threat of financial ruin hanging over them if, through no fault of their own, ill-health strikes them down. What is the good of having superb medical facilities and treatments if at least a quarter of the population cannot afford access to them?  Surely the health of a nation’s most precious asset – its people – should be of the highest priority for any Government claiming to be ‘humane’ ?

    From location unknown
    From: “Lise B****” <lise****@g**online.com>
    Subject: What can we do?
    Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2005 14:42:33 -0800

    I agree. We need health care reform now.  It will never happen with a Republican congress and president.  But can’t we, the people, revolt? Let’s boycott something. If we get enough supporters at a grassroots level through the Web, let’s unite and figure out an effective boycott. Here’ a radical idea, what if thousands, if not millions, of us progressives agreed to stop paying our premiums on individual health plans and stopped paying our coinsurance on hospital bills until Congress agrees to at least start to reform the health care system?  Yes, they would threaten to sue us, but it would get media attention and have an immediate economic impact. What do you think?

    From Southeastern Ohio
     Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 14:29:34 -0400
    From: “Duncan C. Kin***” <d*****@takebackhealthcare.info>
    Organization: Take Back Healthcare
    Subject: Link Request: Take Back Healthcare

    Please include as a link “Take Back Healthcare” http://www.takebackhealthcare.info

    Take Back Healthcare provides news and analysis about the uninsured, single-payer, employee health benefits, medical insurance, medical tourism, Medicare, Medicaid, health costs, drug costs, the Canadian and other foreign plans, and more.
    – Duncan C. Kin***

    From: California
    From: “Jeanne M****” <jeanne*****@msn.com>
    Subject: Belated Congratulations!
    Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2005 22:31:45 -0800

    I am so proud of your efforts, Senator Kuehl. Yours and your staff and your team are all wonderful people. I will follow your project and maybe soon learn more about this bill. I am looking forward to helping you and California make this work for the uninsured. I am a ANA member (American Nurses Association), RN, BSN, USNR-HM3, Mom of two, and a community volunteer. I’d be happy to help you promote this in my area when you are ready. I have a skilled background in managing small community clinics and am fearless of challenges that will help others maintain health and pursue independence as an (functional) American citizen. Please let me know how I can help.

    With my utmost respect,
    Jeanne M**** RN, BSN

    From: Heartland U.S.A.
    Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2005 19:57:29 -0700 (PDT)
    From: a ru** <******2de***@yahoo.com>
    Subject: The Angry Patient (c)

    Wow, your website is amazing.  Thank you.  America’s health care system is a bureacratic quagmire that cares more about a healthy bottom line rather than healthy patients.

    We just read an interesting article the other day about how doctors are now refusing to treat lawyers and their families because the lawyer makes a living filing malpractice cases against doctors and how the good ol’ boys network of doctors are also boycotting patients who have filed malpractice claims. The brotherhood of the Doctor’s is tight. You can rarely find a doctor who will testify against their brethren.

    This is a dangerous precedent. We have found nurse practitioners or D.O.’s  to be a much better alternative to the Men of Medi-Sin (c), who care mor about funding the coffers of their pharmacist phriends. If it isn’t lack of, or not enough, medical insurance being a problem – the opposite is also true – TOO much insurance coverage.

    You work hard all your life. Pay your hefty insurance premiums. Grow old with some grace and dignity. Only to find yourself incarcerated in a hospital where you get doctored 2 death (c) because of your 100% medical insurance coverage. Check out the following website http://www.theangrypatient.com It is the diary of one lone patient’s nightmare incarceration at St. Frightening Hospital, Heartland USA.

    We will pass on your website link to all of our friends. What would this world do with activists? Thank you for this website.

    Take Care,
    The Angry Patient
    Heartland U.S.A.
    (please do not disclose this email address to third parties. thank you.)

    From Wayland, Michigan
    Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 12:37:05 -0700 (PDT)
    From: Kelly M**** <kelly.m.*****@sbcglobal.net>

    A few years ago my husband had a job at a company that offered excellent Health Insurance. We payed $9.00 a week for 100% coverage on our entire family.  There weren’t any co-pays and the doctors were great.  Then the company started going under, my husband found another Job but they were a new small company and couldn’t get a insurance policy that anyone could afford.  I was scared to death, we had just found out that I was pregnant for the third time. His old employer offered cobra insurance and we took it.

    It was very hard for us to pay or normal bills and that huge premium every month but we had to do it because if anything ever happened to us or our children what would we do, then we reasoned that it was worth it because it was 100% coverage. That didn’t last long, after 18 months we were told that we could no longer recieve our cobra insurance. We didn’t know what to do. We looked into getting private insurance but it ran 1,000 per month, and it was only 80\20 coverage with copays on everything.  Then my husband lost his job.

    He got another job with no benefits and took a huge pay cut. We had no choice but to see if the kids could be insurance through the state. After jumping through hoops we finally did get insurance for the kids from the state. For awhile I thought that that was good enough until my husband got injured at work and his employer didn’t want him to collect the medical costs from workmans compensation. About six months later I tripped over one of my childrens toys and thought I had broke my foot, luckily it was just a nasty sprain. I am still getting bills that I have to pay but I don’t know how. My husband and I haven’t been for a physical in about four years.  My children having insurance is one of my top priorities, but the parents need to talk care of themselves too, so that we can take care of our children.  It scares me to think that a simple physical could prevent me from missing something and getting very ill and therefore not being able to care for my children.

    Kelly M****
    Wayland, Michigan

    From: Indiana
    From: Douglas M***** <d*****@interaccess.com>
    Subject: nice site
    Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2005 23:19:38 -0500

    Hi

    I am a practicing orthopedic surgeon in Indiana, and I came across your site on a google search for Universal health Insurance. I am spending time googling this topic on a sunday night because I am beyond fed up with the abysmal state of Health care in this country. I have been massively disappointed by the proposals for “solutions”  that I have heard from the organized medical societies I am a member of, all of which start out with, “let’s get rid of all these lawyers  first and then the problem will solve itself”. The overall state of  this country’s health insurance system is far worse than your web site conveys.

    The thing that most startled me today is that yours is the only website on the first google page for this topic that has content from later than 2003. How this huge a problem can go without even a  current proposal for a solution circulating on the web for three  years is mind-boggling.   Nice try though. Keep up the good work.

    Douglas M*****, MD

    From: Montana
    Subject: Health Systems Financial Recovery: updated National Strategy document
    available
    From: “Lawrence B*****” <Lawrence*******@bc*smt.com>
    Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 08:42:02 -0700

    More of our national leaders are recognizing that current Health Care reforms are merely band-aids that focus on fixes to the current system or throwing dollars at special interest groups. I believe our nation has overlooked a better approach.From this belief, I have dedicated myself to developing the enclosed plan. (The actual document will be sent immediately via this address.  Because of its  size  it  will  be in a ZIP file)You will quickly see it addresses all aspects of our  national  health  care infrastructure and the benefits of restructuring it in the context of current federal systems. Please note I have  included  current reform efforts (like Health Savings Accounts, World Health Organization strategies for  implementation, the baby boomer and uninsured issues and  HR 660, Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003) and  that  this  restructure vision is designed for implementation at no additional cost.

    This plan promotes hybridization  of the socialized medicine concept and reinforcing  consumers’ ability to pay, while retaining the advantages of a free  market  industry  where demand and supply determine what is fair. By restructuring funds  within  our current  system as indicated within this proposal, a free market will again reign, causing health care inflation to trend  more  toward  traditional levels. Savings to the overall system, in terms  of  GDP,  could be reduced by an estimated $2.8 trillion by the year 2010.  This is quite  a different  outlook than what most legislation proposes, namely, to throw more scarce dollars at an already doomed system. A  more complete analysis of projected costs is provided within the body of the  white paper  attached.   In summary, this paper gives thoughts to the restructuring of health care through:

    A  health  credit  to  all American citizens to use for health care options they desire that is funded solely by American businesses.  Business costs would  decrease  for those  currently funding employee health coverage and increase  for businesses not  currently funding employee health coverage. All  Americans would  have  these funds  placed in a personal Health Care Savings  Account and  would shop for  health coverage based on their own personal needs.   This  new ‘focused expendable income’ when combined with allowing interstate commerce to market insurance products would promote more competition by insurers and providers. Since all Americans would have the ability  to  pay,  providers can  end cost shifting.  Efficiency and service  would become the  tools most valued by those focused on profit. Unethical  and incompetent  providers and insurers will be sanctioned from over 80 percent of the industry, a huge improvement over the third of the market currently  monitored through  HHS.  Providers would  find it very difficult to hide their unethical behaviors from private pay organizations. ICD-10  and the move to the World Health Organization guidelines would also offer other  opportunities for  competition through  the availability of alternative and complementary medicine.

    I am asking that you take a few moments to review the four-page prologue of the enclosed plan for a quick overview of how our current health care industry can be restructured.  We desperately need free market economics to promote competition and control inflation to ensure a strong, viable economic future for all Americans.

    If you are not interested in helping to enhance and promote this plan, I respectfully ask you to recommend how I can improve it and place it in the hands of those who may be able to glean some worth from its pages.

    Thank you in advance for your consideration of the enclosed plan.  Please contact me at your convenience if you have any questions or need additional information, by phone at (406) 439-**** or (406) 444-****,  or by email to lee*********@montana.com.

    Sincerely,
    L. Lee B***** MBA/HCM

    From New York, New York
    From: Jac*****@aol.com
    Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 13:32:33 EDT
    Subject: (no subject)

    I am sure that there is a lot of corruption in the system, specifically the insurance companies and some hospitals, however my husband. for one, is a periodontist, paying back hundreds of thousands of dollars for dental school, and the insurance companies reimburse terribly for the hard work he does.  Additionally, he pays thousands of dollars a month to pay for family and employee health insurance and malpractice insurance. Everyone seems to think the doctors are making out like bandits, and I am sure some are, but most of them are middle class.  Maybe I’d be more for reform if the government paid for his medical schooling also.

    Jac*****

    P.S. I am a psychoanalyst and am not a provider for managed care because they pay $40.00 an hour and the going rate in Manhattan is about $150.00 -$200./hr. and also they ask too many personal questions about patients that should be confidential. Healthcare reform is more complicated than people make it out to be.

    From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 11:35:41 -0400
    From: “Co** M****” <****@familyplanning.org>
    Subject: What about car insurance?

    I think that it is a missed opportunity for advocates of universal health insurance to not talk about the impact lack of universal coverage has on automobile insurance.  Most of my insurance cost in Massachusetts and here in Pennsylvania is for medical cost.  It is now common practice for the medical insurance companies to go after the auto insurance companies to pay for medical services as a result of an accident.  If we had some type of universal coverage and medical cost were not the burden of the injured then the cost of care from an accident could be put onto he health system and insurance premiums could drop in half.

    These are the effects of not having a universal system that individuals in this country often have a hard time seeing. Just like the fact that everyone does get medical care at some point whether they have insurance to seek regular treatment or they are rushed to the emergency room and die.  And those who can not pay don’t, however because these cost are outside the insurance pool they actually or more expense than those in the pool.   Thank you for your time. Keep up the fight.

    Co** M****” MPH, Program Analyst, Circle of Care/ familyplanning.org

    From White Bluff, Tennessee
    From: Rin****@cs.com
    Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 05:17:10 EDT
    Subject: Knowledje without wisdom is dangerous

    Note – - This e-mail was over 22 paragraphs long, so we have edited key points on health care, and published the entire letter here.

    <snip> “….. it is absolutely unconstitutional and furthermore a crime against humanity to bar people from health care since the United States have taken money out of our pocket for the research and now has the method for the cure. So in essence I and my ancestors have paid the dues and only the ones at the top get the benefits, and the ones at the top are making the laws. I have been denied my rights!” 

    <snip>..”Here in Tennessee and in America, health care concerns have become second fiddle to the interest of the able body working class and to the foreboding lobbyist who kiss our legislatures feet and present them with shady deals that compromise the foundations of our country’s ethics.”

    <snip>….”I was once one of the so-called “healthy working class” people who did not respect life and humanity as I do now. I thought I did, but I had not yet experienced the devastation of illness and disability and I had not yet become an individual who was at the mercy of this rich society.  I had no concerns for “those” people and have heard and participated in discussions that contained sentiments of “trashing the trash” of our country. It seems now even more insensitivity exists because our legislatures and judges are still grinding the ax. Now as I experience some of these horrible scenarios I am shamed by that ideology. Now I know different and I am a different man for it. I have exchanged that life for a deeper understanding of the value of any mans rights and his rights to life.”   Read the entire  letter here.

    From Wisconsin
    Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 15:54:46 -0500
    From: JASON * MA***** <jp*******@wisc.edu>
    Subject: Question on SB 840

    Hello,

    My name is Jason Ma***** and I am a researcher at Wisconsin Citizen Action, and Currently I am working on a project in Wisconsin to pressure major corporations to accept Universal Health Care.  Basically, We have been focusing on Wal-Mart because of their excessive problems with Health Care, and I know they currently fought tooth and nail to shoot down Prop. 72, but I am wondering what they are doing about SB 840 the California Health Insurance Reliability Act.  I know most educated people, especially your group would see that universal Health Care would help underwrite a businesses bottom line, but I want to see if Wal-Mart also opposses universal Health Care laws, based on partisan principles, because if they did we can show how they oppose pay or play plans, and universal health care, and appear to only support health care for no one but the rich, which hopefully would get them to support some sort of universal health care system. Any ways, I just need to know if you have any information on Wal-Mart and their lobbying efforts with SB840, it would be extremely helpful, and would push us both towards our mutual goal of protecting the uninsured and the poor.

    Thank you,
    Jason Ma*****

    From ? location unknown
    Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 19:05:40 -0700 (PDT)
    From: tim he**** <h********@yahoo.com>
    Subject: national healthcare

    I do not want a national healthcare system. I don’t want the government to take care of me. I want to keep my money and take care of myself. If we all could keep more of our money we could but we keep giving it to the government trusting them and believing it will be there tomorrow. It has to stop. This is socialism. Please don’t push this any farther. I can take care of myself! Stop raping me financially!

    From Jackson, Michigan
    From: Russell*****@aol.com
    Date: Tue, 3 May 2005 01:18:22 EDT
    Subject: Need for national health care

    I think its a terrible shame that this nation has no health care system. If you do have insurance you can count on your premiums and deductibles rising substantially every year.  If you don’t have insurance you better hope and pray you don’t get sick. I do not have any insurance now but I pay medicare taxes so that old people who don’t work can get their Viagra prescriptions filled.  This money then goes to the manufacturer of Viagra who uses it to produce television ads that are shown on prime time so that my kids can learn about the dangers of four hour erections. In the meantime my asthmatic brother has to worry about suffering an attack because he can’t pay for his inhaler. He also misses alot of work because he can’t breathe like he should.  Somehow I think that making sure a working person in the prime of his life can breathe properly is of greater societal importance than making sure a geriatric can achieve an erection. But of course, that is merely my opinion.  The so-called leaders of this nation surely know what is best for all of us. What a bunch of gutless wonders! Let’s vote them all out of office before they ruin us completely!  People are dying and suffering and the government does not care.

    That is unless you are a brain dead vegetable like Terry Schiavo!  Who paid to keep her alive in a vegetative state for all those years? Answer: me and you.  It was a national emergency when the courts said let this woman die in peace. Then a special session of Congress had to be called to deal with this national emergency! It was so important that our tax dollars be used to keep this woman in a “permanent vegatative state” alive at any cost while millions of Americans can’t even get basic health care. Please, what is wrong with these people in Congress? Maybe we need to invade another sovereign nation at tax payer expense while we are at it.  And when the boys come home with missing limbs and screwed up minds we will treat them like we did our Vietnam vets.  Makes you feel proud to be an American doesn’t it?Yes you have my permission to post this letter on your site. My first name is Russell and I am from Jackson, Michigan. Thanks for trying to do something about this.  Good luck!

    From San Francisco, California
    From: Troy****@aol.com
    Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 16:37:51 EDT
    Subject: help

    Hello,
    I’m also an advocate for a national health insurance program. After reading your website, I wanted to learn more about your organization and discover ways I can help. For 15 years, I was a healthcare reporter at various newspapers and now I’m in healthcare public relations. I live and work in the San Francisco Bay Area. Please, give me more information about your efforts. Thanks. Troy

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Bad Company

January 27th, 2011
Insurance Companies Penalized or Under Investigation for Breaking the Law or for Bad Practices
New created Feb 23, 2008

You reap what you sow -  Even if it is a multi-billion dollar insurance company, this universal truth still applies. Health insurers will not escape the consequences of its actions.
AETNA
Aetna delays change of policy on colonoscopy sedation
By GARY HABER, The News Journal  / Updated Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Aetna Inc., one of the largest insurers in Delaware, said today it will delay its plans to stop paying for the services of an anesthesiologist to sedate patients during many routine colonoscopies. One of many articles here
CIGNA
Health Insurer to be Charged with Teen’s Murder Dec. 22, 2007
Nataline Sarkisyan, 17, died just hours after Cigna reversed its decision and approved the procedure it had previously described as “too experimental…and unproven.”
“All of the doctors there unanimously agreed that she needed and should have that liver transplant. And the only entity, if you will, who said no to that in the middle of that medical decision, was some piece of garbage who decided that making a couple of dollars, or saving them a couple of dollars, was worth more than the 65% chance over six months that she would survive,”…One of many articles here
HEALTH NET
Insurer must pay $9 million for canceling policy
Health Net dropped coverage for woman undergoing cancer treatment
 SF Chronicle Staff and News Services   Saturday, February 23, 2008
A Southern California woman who had her medical coverage canceled as she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer was awarded more than $9 million Friday in a case against one of California’s largest health insurers.

Patsy Bates, 52, a hairdresser from Lakewood (Los Angeles County), had been left with more than $129,000 in unpaid medical bills when Health Net Inc. canceled her policy in 2004. The insurer contended Bates failed to disclose a heart condition and lied about her weight when she applied for the policy in July 2003.

But arbitration judge Sam Cianchetti ordered Health Net to pay her medical bills, plus $8.4 million in punitive damages and $750,000 for emotional distress.

“It’s hard to imagine a situation more trying than the one Bates has had to endure,” Cianchetti wrote in his findings. “The rug was pulled out from underneath, and that occurred at a time when she is diagnosed with breast cancer, one of the leading causes of death for women.”
One of many articles here

Los Angeles City Attorney Sues Health Net, Alleging Scheme to Cancel Policies
“This practice of post-claims policy cancelation is unlawful, unfair and fraudulent,” said City Attorney Delgadillo. Health Net went so far as to create a secret unit to cancel policies when patients needed expensive medical treatment. Health Net Inc. saved about $35 million by illegally canceling the coverage of at least 1,600 patients over four years, the city attorney’s office alleges in the lawsuit filed Wednesday. “Health Net provided benchmarks and economic incentives to the individual responsible for these illegal cancelations, should she reach the company’s goals,” City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo said in an interview. One of many articles here Read the actual Court Complaint here
PACIFICARE/UNITED HEALTH
UnitedHealth facing up to $1.3 billion in fines for alleged payment problems
By Barbara Feder Ostrov  / Mercury News / Article Launched: 01/29/2008
UnitedHealth, the nation’s largest health insurer, faces penalties of up to $1.3 billion from California regulators for alleged payment problems that caused chaos for both doctors and patients. <SNIP>

The Department of Managed Healthcare, which oversees Pacificare/United’s HMO business, also fined the insurer $3.5 million for its mishandling of managed care claims. <SNIP>

A joint investigation by the two agencies found that Pacificare, which merged with United Health in 2005, failed to pay claims in a timely manner, wrongly denied claims, incorrectly paid claims, lost patients’ records, mishandled provider networks and failed to respond quickly to complaints. The investigation uncovered 130,000 alleged violations of state law.” One of many articles here
PacifiCare’s alleged violations cited by CDI and DMHC include:

* Wrongful denials of covered claims
* Incorrect payment of claims
* Lost documents including certificates of creditable coverage and medical records
* Failure to timely acknowledge receipt of claims
* Multiple requests for documentation that was previously provided
* Failure to address all issues and respond timely to member appeals and provider disputes
* Failure to manage provider network contracts and resolve provider disputes
UNITED HEALTH GROUP’S DATABASE CO. “INGENIX”
CUOMO ANNOUNCES INDUSTRY-WIDE INVESTIGATION INTO HEALTH INSURERS’ FRAUDULENT REIMBURSEMENT SCHEME
Database Company Ingenix – Used by Dozens of Insurers – at Center of Scheme
Cuomo Notifies Ingenix and its Parent, UnitedHealth Group, of Intent to File Suit; Subpoenas 16 Other Companies

NEW YORK, NY (February 13, 2008) – Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he is conducting an industry-wide investigation into a scheme by health insurers to defraud consumers by manipulating reimbursement rates. At the center of the scheme is Ingenix, Inc., the nation’s largest provider of healthcare billing information, which serves as a conduit for rigged data to the largest insurers in the country.

Cuomo also announced that he has issued 16 subpoenas to the nation’s largest health insurance companies including Aetna (NYSE: AET), CIGNA (NYSE: CI), and Empire BlueCross BlueShield (NYSE: WLP), and that he intends to file suit against Ingenix, Inc, its parent UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), and three additional subsidiaries.

The six-month investigation found that Ingenix operates a defective and manipulated database that most major health insurance companies use to set reimbursement rates for out-of-network medical expenses. Further, the investigation found that two subsidiaries of United (the “United insurers”) dramatically under-reimbursed their members for out-of-network medical expenses by using data provided by Ingenix.
Official press release here

Detailed article here

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