Dear Bill (Appling),

I believe you hit the nail on the head in your comments about "Healthcare Costs are Too High……." About 5-6 years ago I read an article where the CEO of one of the nation's largest insurers received a $24 million bonus.
The article went on to describe this company's financial success. This is the best part; they increased revenues and decreased expenses. True business geniuses no doubt to the lay people. But you and I know the increase in revenue came from hiking up premium payments (they may have increased share but I am discounting that possibility) and the expense reduction came on the backs of providers receiving lower reimbursement for services and the insured not having their care authorized. And so it goes, premiums increase, reimbursement decreases and CEOs are rewarded.
While I completely reject Obama's recent intervention into the free market Executive pay debate, I agree that compensation within the health insurance industry should be addressed. I totally support pay for performance but some of these salaries for these executives are just plain out of control. To that end the boards of these corporations should step up and do their job. Unfortunately, it is a good ole boy club and hypothetically since you sit on my board and I sit on yours, there exists the mentality, don't mess with my salary unless you want me to do the same.
Anyway, enjoyed the article.

— Kevin Blackwell, CEO, DeSoto Imaging & Diagnostic Specialists
 
 
Dear Memphis Medical News,

There is a lot of confusion about the "Public Option" portion of the current health care debate, and unfortunately the politicians are all paying lip service to this idea when they are pressed on the subject. There are also a lot of good intentioned people who think a public option will lead to a single-payer national health system which is really what we need. This post should help clear up some of the confusing rhetoric about the public option.
Please take this as information and dig deeper and join the debate if you can. President Obama and health care reform were the focus of ABC's Frontline and Nightline programs on June 24, 2009. The President said the following: "Genuine change doesn't come from Washington- it comes from the will of the people."
We need to hold him and the Congress to this principle. Right now the politicians are talking out of both sides of their mouths, and ignoring the voice of the people.
Just think back to Medicare Part D. The country was sold a "bill of goods" by the industry and Congress. What will happen to true health care reform if America is also forced into Washington's version of reform which can't solve the issues of universal coverage, quality improvement, and long term costs control? The public will be very disillusioned and angry, but worse than that, we will be fighting all over again to hear our voices heard because anything short of single payer will not work.
Thanks for your advocacy efforts for true health care reform. Remember that "Health Care is a Human Right," and not a commodity to be bargained only in the halls of Congress.
 
— Arthur J. Sutherland, III M.D. FACC
 
 
Dear Memphis Medical News:

Every few months or years, someone tries to "fix" healthcare. Whether it be the insurance companies, managed care organizations, government, Ralph Nader or even the Lone Ranger, everyone thinks they have a better mousetrap.
Everyone is quick to admit that the United States has the best healthcare in the world. Life expectancy continues to rise while our single biggest healthcare issue is that we eat too much. Why then do we even bother going down this heavily traveled road again? I smell politics. What else could it be other than politics (someone trying to look good for voters)?
Our company works exclusively with doctors and I can tell you they are working harder for less money than ever before.
 Our very lives depend on their expertise and caring. Leave these honorable people alone! Yes, I have heard of a few physicians that have gone outside the boundaries of the system and made unearned money. But those are few and far between – not the mainstream physicians.
The government may in fact mean well, but I see far more important things on our horizon than fixing something that works very well. Certainly there are things that need to be looked at and perhaps fixed, but not the whole system.
I am afraid that if we do not quit fixing things for our physicians, they might get fed up and become politicians or just quit. Now that would fix everything, wouldn't it?
 
— Alan D. Flippin, President, ADF Medical
 
 
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