‘Non-Partisan’ Health Care Research Group Owned By…Health Insurance Company
The political battle over health-care reform is waged largely with numbers, and few number-crunchers have shaped the debate as much as the Lewin Group, a consulting firm whose research has been widely cited by opponents of a public insurance option.
To Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House Republican whip, it is “the nonpartisan Lewin Group.” To Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee, it is an “independent research firm.” To Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the second-ranking Republican on the pivotal Finance Committee, it is “well known as one of the most nonpartisan groups in the country.”
Generally left unsaid amid all the citations is that the Lewin Group is wholly owned by UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation’s largest insurers.
More specifically, the Lewin Group is part of Ingenix, a UnitedHealth subsidiary that was accused by the New York attorney general and the American Medical Association, a physician’s group, of helping insurers shift medical expenses to consumers by distributing skewed data. Ingenix supplied its parent company and other insurers with data that allegedly understated the “usual and customary” doctor fees that insurers use to determine how much they will reimburse consumers for out-of-network care.
They weren’t just accused, either. Earlier this year, they agreed to a $50 million settlement with the New York State AG, and agreed to a $350 million settlement with the AMA.
And these are the people providing ‘statistics’ that are actually being touted by the Rethugs in this debate. And the self-same Rethugs are the ones trying to torpedo health care reform. Call Tom Carper and tell him that the so-called bipartisan solution is being driven by phony numbers from a health care company masquerading as a research firm.
At least that way, when and if he betrays his Delaware constituents, we will know that he knew that polling showing opposition to the public option was fabricated.
Tags: Health Care Reform
I urge you to dig a little deeper. Go to the Center for Public Integrity, click on Blue Dogs! Look at the money filtered to these blue dogs (repubican with small d), and see the money they are raking in from the insurance companies. Check out much the CEO of Aetna received in salary: $23mil, United Health care profited $12billion in 2nd quarter, CEO salary: $124.8million in 2005. Premiums from these robber barrons are paying 350,000 new lobbyists to make sure the coffers of those decision makers are crammed full.You want some facts on health care: see what Obama’s Doctor of 22 years says about it. Democracynow.org has done 3 shows on this topic all available online.
Its time to redecorate the Congress with some plush red velvet carpeting and bring in the piano player to wile away their time, while those who took an oath to protect and serve the people, are serving the corporate whores on Wall Street, Big Pharma, Credit Card companies, and insurance industry. If there is no public option we should not support anything they come up with…Howard Dean.
People making $23 million a year are trying to keep the gravy train going by feeding bogus stats to the Rethugs and blue dogs in this debate…? Gasp!! Shocking!!
At the NCSL (National Conference of State Legislators) we just passed a resolution of support for Health Care Reform that supports all of the good points of the Fed proposal and even some major insurance company reform. The vote in Philadelphia today Thurs. 7/23 was 38 States for and 12 against. This was monster if you’ve ever experienced getting over 50 states and territories to cast a three-quarter vote on what has become the most prominent and controversial issue of the day. Also moved some substantive free-trade reform proposals forward and an extensive array of environmental and energy policies. I humbly submit that I only lost one issue that I strongly opposed. Joined here this week by Jaques, JJ Johnson, Sen. McDowell and yes we paid all our own expenses and fees out of pocket. Worthwhile investment for the good citizens of Delaware.
Regards,
John Kowalko
So now the liberal mode of operation comes out. If your agenda is criticized make allegations to discredit any and all who do not agree with you.
When the Lewin Group reported on Sen Ron Wyden’s very credible proposal on Health Care, no one heard a peep about the Lewin Group.
What specific issue do you have with the Lewin Group? What stats are incorrect? What methodology was faulty? Anyone?
The CBO trashed the Obama plan yet the CBO head can’t be attacked because guess who was his PhD mentor? Larry Summers.
The public plan is DOA but the liberal assualt on anyone who opposes the plan is fair game.
Mike Protack
What a shame that Delaware Republican Party leader Mike Protack doesn’t have the seat at the table he so deserves. Because, as you can see, he’s a deep, deep student of the subject.
Hey, Mikey: You campaigned on your idea and were rejected worse than if you tried to dunk over Lebron James. IMHO that says, louder than I ever could: Shut. The. Fuck. Up.
Read and weep ~ from the inbox via CRI
Nationalized Health Care
Recent public polls show that a majority of Americans are not in favor of a so-called public option, government-run health insurance plan. A Zogby poll released July 16 shows opposition to this idea at 52%, versus 40% who favor this option. Similar results were noted in a Rasmussen survey released Friday, showing 50% of Americans oppose a public option plan, while only 35% favored having the government in competition with private insurance companies.
There is no doubt that all Americans deserve access to quality, affordable health care. However, a government-run, public plan “option” is not the answer.
The government has proved time and again that its size and inefficiencies can hinder business, stifle innovation and curtail growth. We cannot afford a bill that according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office will increase the national debt by $239 billion over the next decade.
~~~~~
The Caesar Rodney Institute is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational organization based in Dover, Delaware. The Caesar Rodney Institute formulates and promotes free market public policies in the areas of economic growth, taxation and fiscal matters, education, government accountability and health care. Contributions to the Caesar Rodney Institute are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Materials from this document may be copied and distributed with proper citation.
© 2009 The Caesar Rodney Institute
“So now the liberal mode of operation comes out. ”
hmmm…(looks at top of the page) — yep, I am still at DelawareLIBERAL.net
Thanks for that John, it is frustrating to think of nothing getting done in Dover on the legislative end for months and months on end. We have a horrible system down there.
Hey Nancy – no weeping here.
i’d like to know just how many of those for and against it were business owners and CEOs and how many Head of Households in blue collar jobs….and the limitations of their survey.
Sorry Suzanne, to be clear, I was saying weep that CRI considers itself to be non-partisan…
“The government has proved time and again that its size and inefficiencies can hinder business, stifle innovation and curtail growth. We cannot afford a bill that according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office will increase the national debt by $239 billion over the next decade.”
Why would it curtail growth? In Germany is a public as well as a private insurance option (depending on your income and job) – and they have more doctors per capita then the US. And the long waiting times that the Republicans like to point out are bullsh**. In Germany when I called my doctor I always had an appointment the same day or the next day — most of the time I was just a walk in. I was also free to go see any specialist I wanted to see without needing a referral (If I want to see a specialist it is none of my docs business but my decision).
Also, Germany spends less money on health-care then the US. health-care isn’t free, but rates are set by the government and not the insurance carriers and the employer and employee each pay HALF of the premium whiteout those ridiculous increases in premiums if you happen to have a child that needs to be covered.
I love living here in the US and am a proud American citizen, but there is a lot I miss about my country of birth. Helath-care is definitly one of them. Education comes in a close second.
If your agenda is criticized make allegations to discredit any and all who do not agree with you.
Words I never thought I’d see/hear from that source, albeit not in the context I had hoped for. Baby steps…baby steps.
Nancy quoting from right wingers….yahoo Nance! Once again the peanut gallery who knows absolutely nothing on the topic is relying on the “blue dogs” in State to make her point. You gotta love it. Nancy, please instead of hitting the bar tonight at 6:00 try getting some real information. Tune into Democracynow.org at 6:00 on Comcast. You are a foolish woman who can point out developers screwing the people, but cant figure out how the corporate insurance companies and their blue dogs and rightwingers like Protack are trying to kill any reform. Amazing.
Nancy: Governmnt is “running” the health care system. They administer it. Quick buying into Karen Petersons bullcrap on this issue. She is one of the blue dog corporates.
Hmmmmm, anony- whom I know who you are-,
I was staying on the topic –“‘Non-Partisan’ Health Care Research Group Owned By…Health Insurance Company”
I was quoting from a Dover Delaware “think tank” that claims it is non-partisan to make the point that it is partisan you DUMB SHIT.
Lay off the weed,woman. Bong hits don’t help.
The Lewin Group used proper methodology and publishes stats which are accurate.
The Lewin Group did a great job on Sen Wyden’s plan which is much better than Obama/Dems’s plan.
If someone diasgrees with their reports please publish your own or possibly we could use the CBO report? Or the Mayo Clinic opinion?
Mike Protack
Protack is always so full of shit that ‘bulo generally doesn’t respond to his idiocy since he doesn’t want to encourage his Stepford Wife musings.
But to say that a purported polling firm that is in fact a wholly-owned subsidiary of a health insurance giant, and is providing polling data on…HEALTH INSURANCE, employs proper methodology (how the bleep would HE know?) is so empty-headed that ‘bulo’s Latin temperament has gotten the best of him.
The Beast Who Slumbers is so sick of assertions (“The Lewin Group used proper methodology and publishes stats which are accurate.”) masquerading as fact that he just can’t stand it anymore.
So Prozac, provide ONE, ‘bulo will settle for just one, real fact buttressing your BS. Otherwise, please STFU.
Mr. Shallow Bench wouldn’t know a decently designed and executed statistical study even if it arrived on a pink postcard.
The Wyden plan leaves many — possibly millions — without healthcare. It relies entirely on “competition” between privately held insurance
companies to keep costs down. It also prevents businesses from supplying any healthcare benefits to their employees, requiring employees to carry the entire cost of their own insurance, the deductibles and the copays.
So, let’s see: no employer coverage, no public plan, no real “competition” (or we’d have it now under the current system), and a benefit plan in many states that would not include any mental health coverage or prescription drug coverage (because the benefits are tied to the lowest tier plan currently offered by Blue Cross — in my region, that means no drugs, no mental health and no maternity coverage!)
I can see why the party of big business would like that plan.
As for the veracity of Lewin data, check with the NY state Attorney General’s office.
“The Lewin Group used proper methodology and publishes stats which are accurate”
And you have persoanlly audited the entire process?
that was meant to read ?personally”.
Well, most “research ” firms get their money from whatever side they seem to lean towards. Just look at Al Gore. He is pushing global warming legislation because he will make billions if it passes.
“You are just a bunch of “Socialists” interfering with the private enterprise system.” So they said in 1934. When FDR fought for Social Security and Medicare.
Where would we be now ? Depending on our Children to take care of us or sitting on the street corner with tin cups?
Quote:
Message to Congress on the National Health Program – January 23, 1939
“The health of the people is a public concern; ill health is a major cause of suffering, economic loss, and dependency; good health is essential to the security and progress of the Nation…………”
This was 70 years ago !!
http://www.ssa.gov/history/fdrstmts.html
FDR’s Statements on Social Security
LOOK IT UP !!!!
1. MESSAGE TO CONGRESS REVIEWING THE BROAD OBJECTIVES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION–JUNE 8, 1934
2. FIRESIDE CHAT — June 28, 1934
3. THE INITIATION OF STUDIES TO ACHIEVE A PROGRAM OF NATIONAL SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY–EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 6757–JUNE 29, 1934
4. FIRESIDE CHAT– SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1934
5. ADDRESS TO ADVISORY COUNCIL OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC SECURITY ON THE PROBLEMS OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SECURITY. — NOVEMBER 14, 1934.
6. MESSAGE TO CONGRESS ON SOCIAL SECURITY–JANUARY 17,1935
7. PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT SIGNING THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT–AUGUST 14,1935
8. A RECOMMENDATION FOR LEGISLATION AMENDING THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT– DECEMBER 14, 1937.
9. A RECOMMENDATION FOR LIBERALIZING THE OLD-AGE INSURANCE SYSTEM — APRIL 28, 1938.
10. RADIO ADDRESS ON THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT–AUGUST 15, 1938
11. A MESSAGE TRANSMITTING TO THE CONGRESS A REPORT OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD RECOMMENDING CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LAW. — JANUARY 16, 1939.
12. Message to Congress on the National Health Program – January 23, 1939
13. PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT ON SIGNING SOME AMENDMENTS TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT –AUGUST 11, 1939
14. CAMPAIGN ADDRESS ON THE “ECONOMIC BILL OF RIGHTS”–OCTOBER 28,1944
It is time to follow EVERY Industrialized Nation into the future and take care of our sick. We can not present ourselves to the world as the ‘Greatest Democracy” without removing this black spot.