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Health Care Reform: "The Sky Is Falling! The Sky Is Falling!"

The final stages of the health care reform debate remind me of the old story about "Chicken Little". Now don't get me wrong, I think there are elements of HR 3590 that are terrible and the real reform that needs to take place - lowering the cost of care - is largely unaddressed in this legislation.

Unfortunately however the endgame has devolved into a giant excuse for raising money and not an honest debate of the issues. Case in point is an email I received from John McCain last Thursday entitled "Time is running out on health care reform". I am implored to "send a message to President Obama, Harry Reid and their friends on the left that the opposition to this plan is strong . . . . . we have very little time, and every dollar counts." Then, a couple of hours ago I received an email from the MoveOn.org crowd entitled "Wow!" In it I'm invited to donate money to help support as yet unknown candidates to challenge any House Members who vote against the Reform Bill. They've raised $1 million this week alone (thus the "Wow!") but want to raise another million by Friday.

And in between just these two recent examples, I'll bet I've had more than a dozen other similar solicitations. All of them claim "the sky is falling" and only by sending more money can 'we' win the day.

Dragging this battle on from Labor Day to Thanksgiving to Christmas to the State of the Union Address to now . . . . . . . and maybe on to Easter and then beyond . . . . . . may not be an accident. A cynic in the crowd might conclude delay is good for business! I just hope I have some change left in my pockets after it all ends!

"Carl From Duluth": Just Another Happy Customer

Tuesday morning (March 9th) I was a guest on Wisconsin Public Radio's Joy Cardin Show. I was invited to do so by the show's producers who had read my February 24th blog "defending health insurers profits". Ironically, the blog was actually about exposing a public servant's bias so by interpreting the blog as a defense of insurers, didn't the WPN producer reveal a similar bias?

Anyway, I thought the callers were actually pretty balanced and fair. A friend observed he thought I was unusually composed in the face of at least one hostile caller. I could only reply in this way: for 29 years I have been visiting with groups of employees delivering the (always) good news of rising premiums usually accompanied by reduced benefits in the form of higher deductibles and co-pays. I've pretty much heard it all. "Carl from Duluth" could easily have been a client!

Here's a link to the archived spot. (Scroll down to Tuesday March 9th, 6:00 AM.) I'd welcome your critique.

What Do Scott Brown, Ben Nelson & Mike Pence Have In Commmon?

I am in Washington D.C. at the National Association of Health Underwriters annual "Capitol Conference". With the President making his final (?) push for passage of the Senate reform bill - calling for a House vote March 18th - it is timely to be at 'ground zero'.

Newly elected Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) was one of our first speakers. He was followed by the somewhat infamous (as in "Corn husker Kickback") Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE). Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) rounded out the morning session. Besides all three speaking at our NAHU event, I was struck by how different they seemed from their media portrayals. Frankly, Senator Brown wasn't all that gifted or charismatic as a speaker. (Although the ladies in the room obvioulsy found him to be pretty hot!) No, his message was just straight talk about being sick of politics as usual. It was I think that message that got him elected not some slick style.

Senator Nelson displayed a workable understanding of the complexities of health care reform; I particularly liked his comments about preserving the role of the agent/broker in a revitalized system. (Of course, he was preaching to the choir.) Representative Pence was terrific. I think I'd most enjoy having a beer with him. It seemed interesting that with Congress' approval ratings so low, all three came across as honest sincere guys.

Also, all three shared this assessment of "reconciliation"; don't hold your breath! Here's what they said. The Senate has passed a Bill. The House will be asked to pass the same Bill next week. If they do so - and that is a BIG if - HR 3590 (The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) becomes law when the President signs it. And he surely will.

Those that expect HR 3590 to be changed/fixed after passage are drinking the Kool Aid. Once it is law, it's done.

Just thought you ought to know what the insiders think.

Brother, Can You Spare An Hour?

For all the frustration over double digit premium increases, at least some employers are controlling health care costs. At this link, you can watch a health care panel discussion that was a part of the WMC Business Day in Madison February 23rd. John Torinus from Serigraph is the last of three speakers and the entire discussion is a little over an hour. It's all good stuff but make sure you listen to John. Take notes. I did.

Let me know what you think.