The Hill
September 23, 2003
Insurance trade groups OK merger
AAHP and HIAA consolidates Hill lobbying efforts
By Michael S. Gerber
Washington, D.C.’s two largest health insurance trade groups (The American
Association of Health Plans (AAHP) and Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA)) announced Monday that their boards of directors had approved a merger…
Leading the new association in its efforts on Capitol Hill to promote
private insurers will be Karen Ignagni, who currently serves as president
and CEO of AAHP.
The two associations’ similar agendas in Washington make it easy to merge
the policy shops. Both have been pressing for a larger role for private insurers in the Medicare prescription drug package as well as increased
payments to HMOs.
AAHP and HIAA spent a combined $9.3 million on lobbying last year,according
to records filed with the Senate.Each group’s budget is around $20 million, according to the Government Affairs Yellow Book published by Leadership Directories.
AAHP currently employs a staff of 120 and HIAA 80, Ignagni said.(AAHP Chairman William) McCallum said the new organization’s budget would be about 40 percent greater than AAHP’s.
http://www.hillnews.com/business/092303_merger.aspx
Comment: So what? Well, AAHP/HIAA and its membership owns a controlling
interest in Congress. That’s what.
When our goal is to try to provide everyone with health insurance, why should we be concerned that this industry has a favored position with Congress? It’s because our current fragmented system of funding care through private and public programs has resulted in unacceptable waste, deficiencies and inequities in our system. Congress continues to perpetuate policies that protect and enhance private health plans at the cost of health care equity for all of us.
AAHP/HIAA’s $40 million budget can secure its position quite solidly in the
hallways and lobby rooms of Congress. In contrast, we have no significant
sources of funds. All we can offer is a plan to provide affordable, comprehensive health care for everyone. Unfortunately, policy position papers don’t have the color and smell of fresh U.S. Treasury ink that serves as an effective attractant to too many of the creatures of Congress.