By Duke Helfand
Los Angeles Times
March 22, 2010

(The industry’s Washington lobbying arm, America’s Health Insurance Plans) ran ads in national newspapers last week criticizing the overhaul for failing to adequately contain costs. Without bolder action, it warned in its “Open Letter to the American People,” the country could face a healthcare cost “crisis similar to the financial crisis that has rocked our economy.”

“Virtually everyone believes that we have a huge number of issues that remain to be addressed,” said Jay Gellert, chief executive of Woodland Hills-based Health Net Inc. “If anyone thinks that just by passing this we’re going to solve the problems, they are seriously mistaken.”

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-insure22-2010mar22,0,3396267.story

Comment: 

By Don McCanne, MD

I had a nightmare last night. I dreamed that we reformed the financing of health care in America, but that we left the private insurance industry in charge. Oh, wait… Oh, no!

Effects of health overhaul will take time to become clear

By Duke Helfand
Los Angeles Times
March 22, 2010
(The industry’s Washington lobbying arm, America’s Health Insurance Plans) ran ads in national newspapers last week criticizing the overhaul for failing to adequately contain costs. Without bolder action, it warned in its “Open Letter to the American People,” the country could face a healthcare cost “crisis similar to the financial crisis that has rocked our economy.”
“Virtually everyone believes that we have a huge number of issues that remain to be addressed,” said Jay Gellert, chief executive of Woodland Hills-based Health Net Inc. “If anyone thinks that just by passing this we’re going to solve the problems, they are seriously mistaken.”
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-insure22-2010mar22,0,3396267.story

I had a nightmare last night. I dreamed that we reformed the financing of health care in America, but that we left the private insurance industry in charge. Oh, wait… Oh, no!