President Obama calls on Karen Ignagni of AHIP to speak on HC reform

[slipslidingaway]

Run time: 01:02 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gTFzG7Kaa4   Posted on YouTube: March 05, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: June 24, 2009 By DU Member: slipslidingaway Views on DU: 1260

 
Imagine if P. Obama had called upon Dr. Maria Angell to speak at the WH summit instead of Karen Ignagni, members of Congress might be pleading for a public option.


Dr. Marcia Angell not invited to attend and therefore not called upon to speak, Conyers asked that two single-payer advocates be invited to attend....Dr. Quentin Young and Dr. Marcia Angell - his request was denied.


Examining the Single Payer Health Care Option: Marcia Angell Testimony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQNphM6xUsE


Written Statement of Marcia Angell, M. D.
Senior Lecturer in Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Former Editor-in-Chief, New England Journal of Medicine

http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/testimony/20090610MarciaAngellTestimony.pdf



"Quentin Young (born 1923) is Chicago-based physician who is recognized for his efforts in advocating for single-payer health care in the United States. An activist who opposed the Vietnam War and worked on the Civil Rights movement, Young is best known for speaking out about social justice in the realm of health policy..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Young

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/3/11/dr_quentin_young_obama_confidante_and

[bluestateguy]

1. That woman (Ignagni) is very dangerous

If she decides that the health care bill is a bad bill, then it will likely not pass.

[slipslidingaway]

2. Or it could pass, but who knows in what form....

I hope if they put lipstick on a pig, President Obama will veto the bill.

Public Plan ‘Devastating’ In Any Form, Insurers Say

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5907920&mesg_id=5907920


Lobbies representing the insurance industry said in a letter to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy , D-Mass., that a “government plan” option in any form would have “devastating consequences” for current health insurance coverage as well as for the budget deficit and “existing provider systems.”

Friday’s letter from America’s Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association of America also expresses concern about insurance exchanges proposed in a plan developed by Kennedy that is being marked up by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The “gateways,” as they are known in the proposal, could be overly regulatory and should not be the only place where people can get subsidies to help buy coverage under a system in which everyone is required to have health insurance, the letter says.

The letter follows growing efforts in the Senate to fashion a compromise on the controversial issue of creating a new government-run insurance plan as part of overhauling health care. Sen. Kent Conrad , D-N.D., for example, has suggested creating member-run health insurance co-operatives as a form of public plan instead of creating a government-run insurance alternative to private health insurance. But the insurers appeared to reject that attempt at compromise.

“A government-run plan — no matter how it is initially structured — would dismantle employer-based coverage, significantly increase costs for those who remain in private coverage, and add additional liabilities to the federal budget,” the letter says..."

[CHOCOLATMIMOSA]

6. Yes - She is a viscious fighter for corporate interests.

[OHdem10]

3. This woman is not very credible. Talks a good game knowing darn

well her bosses , in fact the Industry is not going to do anything she says. She is out front to paint a pretty picture of the Health Care
Industry.

No disrespect, but Obama could have made a better selection.

[slipslidingaway]

4. I agree n/t

[slipslidingaway]

5. kick nt

[slipslidingaway]

7. TYT: Secret Insurance Industry Memo Discovered - AHIP

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=339978&mesg_id=339978

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/transcript2.html

"BILL MOYERS: We obtained a copy of the game plan that was adopted by the industry's trade association, AHIP. And it spells out the industry strategies in gold letters. It says, "Highlight horror stories of government-run systems." What was that about?

Note: You can download the documents by clicking here and here (PDFs)

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/ahip1.pdf
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/ahip2.pdf

WENDELL POTTER: The industry has always tried to make Americans think that government-run systems are the worst thing that could possibly happen to them, that if you even consider that, you're heading down on the slippery slope towards socialism. So they have used scare tactics for years and years and years, to keep that from happening. If there were a broader program like our Medicare program, it could potentially reduce the profits of these big companies. So that is their biggest concern."