This is Getting Ugly - and That is Good

Friday, August 7, 2009 | 1

By Joe Paduda

After returning to "civilization" from a couple weeks in the Tanzanian bush, it is interesting to see how much progress we've made in the health reform debate — or, as the Obama administration has taken to calling it, the "health insurance reform" debate. As a measure of just how much progress has been made, some opponents have called out the big guns of misinformation and outright lies, employed at the "grass roots" by people who, whether they know it or not, are working against their own best interests.

There have been many reports of town hall meetings disrupted by what appears to be carefully organized groups, using an approach scripted by a Washington lobbying firm headed by none other than former Texas Republican Rep. Dick Armey.

Armey's clients include insurers and medical device companies, firms that are terrified of the potential that health reform may actually harm their business models. The disrupt and obstruct model was actually tested here in Connecticut in a town hall meeting held by Fairfield County's Jim Himes (D).

What's interesting is reform as currently described in the House bill would have the opposite effect — it would create a huge new constituency, a new market of folks previously without insurance who would suddenly have access to coverage — and the care that that coverage buys. Care that would include stents and drugs and MRIs and surgical implants and pain meds and therapy and tests and operations — creating revenue for Armey's clients.

Now I don't for a minute believe Armey's clients are dumb. Therefore they must be concerned — very concerned — that reform will actually hurt them financially.

That's really good news. The implication is clear — the health care industry fears that Congress will pass and the President will sign legislation that will actually control costs — reducing the overuse of drugs, technology, and treatments and impacting insurer admin expense. That certainly hasn't been apparent from the House bill, or for that matter the bills that have gotten the most attention in the Senate.

I don't know if they know something I don't, or if they're just running (very) scared, but I'm hoping their concerns are well-founded and we'll see a serious health reform bill that does attack cost.

I'd suggest anyone who wants a dispassionate, objective, factual review of the debate make it a point to visit Politifact.


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Joseph Paduda's blog, managedcarematters.com, focuses on managed care for group health, workers compensation, auto insurance, cost containment, health policy, health research, and medical news for insurers, employers, and health care providers. Paduda is the principal of Health Strategy Associates.
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