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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Follow the money (or promise of it) to see why AMA and AARP support the health care bill(s)

See this article for one explanation for why AARP might support the current democratic health care "reform" bill. This is from the pen of Dick Morris and his assertion is that AARP in its role as an insurance broker will reap rewards from the bill(s) cutting funds to Medicare Advantage as a number of old folks will then need/want to buy medicare supplemental insurance for which AARP is a major broker.

How does this "follow the money rule" work for the AMA support of the bill(s)? Again Morris suggests a deal with the Obama administration , one in which AMA is promised that the dreaded and dreadful SGR annual cuts will be abolished. He does not spell out the evidence that such a deal was made and if so what was the deal.

Morris's article also tackles the relationship of the drug companies,insurance companies and medical device companies regarding their support or lack thereof and what they might or might not get out of it all.

'Follow the money" continues to be a very useful insight-generating rule or at least a hint as to what rocks to look under.

1 comment:

Michael Kirsch, M.D. said...

The AARP will rue their support for the Democrat's health care bill. The New York Times reported today what most of already knew to be true. There will be service cutbacks to Medicare in both the current House and Senate bills. The GOP has always maintained this position, but their view was drowned out and dismissed. The money has to come from somewhere, and squeezing the docs and the taxpayers won't be enough. As for the AMA, who do they represent? Remind me. www.MDWhistleblower.blogspot.com