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defrogITEM: The nation's largest insurers, hospitals and medical groups have hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress in hopes of influencing their old bosses and colleagues, according to an analysis of lobbying disclosures and other records.
Guess what they want?
Which I think means the only healthcare reform yr going to see is one that will allow the pharmaceutical, healthcare and insurance companies to keep making as much money as they do now.
Nothing new there, then.
DISCLAIMER: I’m no expert on the healthcare debate, but I can tell you just getting my Hong Kong-born mother-in-law a refill prescription for diabetes medicine via the Blount County Hospital ER (in Tennessee) on Christmas Day (which wasn’t covered by her travel insurance because it’s a pre-existing condition) set us back US$510.00. That’s not including the actual cost of the medicine.
The same mission in Hong Kong would have cost us around US$13.00. Is it cos she is foreigner?
Anyway, as I say, I don’t have the answers, and I know a few of you are in the healthcare business, so any insight to the realities of how it works and what can realistically be changed, I'm all ears.
I just think it says a lot that what many other countries consider a basic right, America has somehow transformed into a bloated, expensive and insanely complicated beast that puts a higher priority on profit margins and share prices than the welfare of the patients. Even if you think that’s better than Communism, it doesn’t mean this is the best we can do.
Though given our healthcare sector was developed in a country that invents – and then eats – Deep Fried Oreos, maybe it is the best we can do under the circumstances.
Follow the money,
This is dF
The hirings are part of a record-breaking influence campaign by the health-care industry, which is spending more than $1.4 million a day on lobbying in the current fight, according to disclosure records.
Guess what they want?
The aim of the lobbying blitz is simple: to minimize the damage to insurers, hospitals and other major sectors while maximizing the potential of up to 46 million uninsured Americans as new customers.
Which I think means the only healthcare reform yr going to see is one that will allow the pharmaceutical, healthcare and insurance companies to keep making as much money as they do now.
Nothing new there, then.
DISCLAIMER: I’m no expert on the healthcare debate, but I can tell you just getting my Hong Kong-born mother-in-law a refill prescription for diabetes medicine via the Blount County Hospital ER (in Tennessee) on Christmas Day (which wasn’t covered by her travel insurance because it’s a pre-existing condition) set us back US$510.00. That’s not including the actual cost of the medicine.
The same mission in Hong Kong would have cost us around US$13.00. Is it cos she is foreigner?
Anyway, as I say, I don’t have the answers, and I know a few of you are in the healthcare business, so any insight to the realities of how it works and what can realistically be changed, I'm all ears.
I just think it says a lot that what many other countries consider a basic right, America has somehow transformed into a bloated, expensive and insanely complicated beast that puts a higher priority on profit margins and share prices than the welfare of the patients. Even if you think that’s better than Communism, it doesn’t mean this is the best we can do.
Though given our healthcare sector was developed in a country that invents – and then eats – Deep Fried Oreos, maybe it is the best we can do under the circumstances.
Follow the money,
This is dF
