McDonnell's stacked health panel

[Derechos]

Facing "Obamacare," Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell has chosen 24 people to advise him on how to pursue such measures as reforming Medicaid, moving to electronic records and setting up an exchange so people can pick and choose among medical insurance plans that federal law will require them to purchase.

Since it's McDonnell, it should come as no shock that of the 24 members of the Virginia Health Reform Initiative Advisory Council, there is no one representing the poor, minorities, labor unions or Average Joes.

Most of the appointees are members of the managed care establishment, including health insurance firms, law firms, doctors' groups, investment companies, the CEO of MeadWestvaco (a major packaging firm) and the global medical director of ExxonMobil.

These may all be highly competent individuals but the lack of more grass-roots types is stunning. After all, Obamacare was passed in part to help the poor and newly unemployed who can't afford insurance and to end managed care's abuses such as denying coverage for "pre-existing" medical conditions.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-opinions/2010/08/facing_obamacare_gov_robert_f.

Here's a rundown of the council members:

Dr. Bill Hazel, Virginia secretary of health and human resources, chairman

Cindi B. Jones, director, Virginia Health Reform Initiative (ex-officio)

W. Scott Burnette, president and CEO, Community Memorial Health Center

Geoff Brown, senior vice president and chief information officer, INOVA Health System .

James Carlson, chairman and CEO, Amerigroup

Del. Benjamin L. Cline, R-Rockbridge .

Monty Dise, president, Asset Protection Group Inc. .

William H. Fralin Jr., CEO and president, Medical Facilities of America

Shirley Gibson, RN, interim vice president of nursing operations, VCU Health System

Chuck Hall, executive director, Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board

Richard M. Hamrick III, M.D., physician and partner, Pulmonary Associates of Richmond

Del. Patrick A. Hope, D-Arlington

Stephen A. Horan, president and executive director, Community Health Resource Center

Sen. R. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania

Clarion E. Johnson, M.D., global medical director, Medicine and Occupational Health Department, Exxon Mobil Corporation

W. Scott Johnson, Hancock, Daniel, Johnson & Nagle, P.C.

Del. S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk

C. Burke King, president, Virginia market, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Jane Kusiak, executive director, Council on Virginia's Future

John A. Luke Jr., chairman and CEO, MeadWestvaco

Elizabeth Teisberg, Ph.D., Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia

Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, D.O., dean and executive vice president, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Sen. William C. Wampler Jr., R-Bristol

Joe R. Wilson, chief operating officer, PermaTreat Pest Control

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/virginia-news/2010/aug/20/exch20s1-ar-463065/