Beware of Health Care Industry Barons Bearing Gifts

[marmar]

Don't Fall for the Health Industry Barons' Empty Promises

Posted by Joshua Holland, AlterNet at 1:00 PM on May 11, 2009.

Obama is welcoming the health care lobby's Trojan Horse -- a pledge to cut the growth of costs to "only" 4.7 annually.




I am awed at people's capacity for self-deception. On Monday, the Obama administration and SEIU joined with Big Health lobbyists to trot out a six-month old, non-specific, non-binding "promise" to cut the rate at which health care costs grow to "only" 4.7 percent annually.

This is very simple: the insurance, pharmaceutical and medical devices industries see the writing on the wall -- American health care puts an unsustainable economic burden on families and employers, leaves 47 million people without coverage and results in some of the worst outcomes in the industrial world. Fearful of a growing movement towards real, substantive reform, they are trying to co-opt the process under the guise of "getting a seat at the table."

There's no news here -- "voluntary" codes of conduct, self-regulation and industry-driven initiatives for the private sector to address complex policy issues have long been a standard tactic for heading off real regulation, real accountability measures, systemic reforms.

America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) -- the insurance industry group descended from the organization that aired the infamous "Harry and Louise" campaign during the Clinton health care wars -- first trotted out this proposal 6 months ago. It wasn't big news then, but with Obama's nod and one of the major, ostensibly progressive players in the health care debate getting on board, it is now. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/139954/don%27t_fall_for_the_health_industry_barons%27_empty_promises_/

[Raven]

1. "Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly...."

That's what I'm hoping is going on here. Obama gets the "voluntary" reforms and then lowers the boom.

[Psychic Consortium]

2. After dealing with the GOP, banks, industry, etc. Obama knows crooks when he sees them.

Don't worry, Obama has their number.
He works for us, not them.

[mmonk]

3. So what's he going to do?

In 2003, he was for it but later said he was against it (I believe in 2008). The discussions now do not include single payer and on Ed's radio show, a Senator said we will not get single payer.

[Psychic Consortium]

5. Depends a lot upon the crooks in question.

Obama gives everyone the opportunity to do the right thing.
If they don't, he begins to chip away at their power base.
Like taking the wings off a bug.

Obama works slowly, deliberately, and with great aim.
The crooks would be wise to not underestimate him.

[mmonk]

6. I admire your trust.

[Psychic Consortium]

7. There is no doubt at all.

Watch the master in action, taking down the crooks
piece by piece. They will never know what hit them.

[ColbertWatcher]

19. Interesting analysis. n/t

[bvar22]

13. Don't you just love the way Obama dealt with the Wall Street Banks?

If he "deals with" the Health Insurance Industry the same way, we are well and truly fucked...
$Trillions going to the Fat Cat CEOs, nothing for the Working Class.

[Psychic Consortium]

17. He is far from done with the banks. Stay tuned. nt

[newfie11]

4. With the majority of congress on the take from lobbyist I doubt we will get anything

Anything resembling a single payer plan. It seems most of congress is on the take. God help this country.

[snowdays]

8. Especially Baucus, the top taker of lobby money and in charge of 'reform"

What a joke.

[snowdays]

9. K and r---to the greatest.

[OHdem10]

10. Listening to Sebelius on Morming Joe clearly indicates a lot of questions

need to be raised. "People can keep the Insurance they have if they
like it. We will try to provide Insurance for those who do not have
it. Preventing Illness.........

I am sorry but not one Democrat has explained how they will save
money to make Insurance affordable.

Let's be honest those saying they will cut costs---have had years
and opportunities to lower prices. They are businesses whose purpose
is to make a profit for their shareholders. Out of fear that a single
payer system would put them out of business, they are coming reluctantly
to say they will cut costs. Believe you me, withing a year and a half
they will be raising prices once again. Their responsibility is to
their shareholder and NOT to the American People. Trusting them
will be a serious mistake.

It appears nothing will change. The Health Care Industry will soon
be in the driver's seat and the people will be once again screwed.

[customerserviceguy]

11. I have no illusions about the health insurance bureaucracy

They know that the mood of the country has changed (if McLame/Barbie had gotten elected, they would know that it had not changed sufficiently), and right now, their chief mission is to guarantee they'll still get a cut of every dollar that is spent on medical care in this country.

I guaran-damn-tee everyone here that if they find that they are either being cut out, or can see their share dwindling to an amount they consider below their dignity, they will bolt. And since they're the only really healthy share of the economy right now, they have amassed a hoard of cash to fight universal healtcare through the media, especially single-payer.

[European Socialist]

12. Obama should be judged by what comes out of all this....

I still have some hope, but not much.

[bvar22]

14. Obama WILL be judged by what comes out of this.

Health Care Reform is my "Line in the Sand" for the Obama administration.
If he deals with this as he dealt with the Wall Street Bankers ($Trillions without any reform) I'm gone.)

[snowdays]

15. "voluntary" proposals are useless.

[DCKit]

16. They will continue to deny care, withhold innovation and hold every damn one of us hostage...

and will still be guaranteed a 4.7% growth in profits each and every year? Nice gig if you can get it.

"...as much as 2 Trillion..." is nice, but we're already spending more per capita than any country with socialized medicine. Despite the propaganda campaign, universal coverage at the current rate of spending is not only affordable, but would generate a surplus.

They're not going to give up on this folks. There's just too damn much money at stake to walk away without fighting to the death.

[Quantess]

18. evening kick

[ColbertWatcher]

20. GMTA ...

... I'm a day behind on news and found a story in yesterday's LA Times that struck me as odd, so I posted about it http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5644183&mesg_id=5644183