DJP Update 3-23-2012 Excerpt from Kaiser Health News re PPACA and Supreme Court hearing on it; DJP Reflections
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2012/March/22/health-industries-supreme-court-case.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+khn+%28All+Kaiser+Health+News%29
Health Industries Weigh In On Supreme Court Case
By Jay Hancock
KHN Staff Writer
Mar 22, 2012
EXCERPT
Insurers have chosen not to defend the massive dividend for their industry that many believe makes the law most vulnerable. The “individual mandate” requires almost everybody to buy health insurance or pay a fine – a major concession the lobby got at the bargaining table. But insurers are not taking a stand on whether the mandate is an unconstitutional abuse of federal power, as the law’s opponents contend.
“I don’t think the public or the courts recognize our industry for its constitutional expertise,” said Karen Ignagni, chief executive of America’s Health Insurance Plans, an industry lobby.
Insurers do express strong views on what the court should do if the mandate is tossed out. Their memo to the justices joins more than 130 other briefs, the largest number of “friend of the court” briefs ever filed for a Supreme Court case.
Hospitals, the law’s most energetic health-industry defender, urge the court to uphold the entire health overhaul act. Drug makers just want the legal case and resulting uncertainty to be over.
The American Medical Association, the largest doctor lobby, supports the law and is working to influence rules for insurance exchanges and other components. But, like the largest drug trade group, it has filed no briefs with the court.
“There have been ample statements on all sides of the issues,” said AMA President Dr. Peter Carmel. “Our focus now is on assuring effective implementation of the law and on securing further improvements.”
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END of EXCERPT
DJP Reflections: Imagine if on D-Day, June 6, 1944, Operation Overlord, General Eisenhower received word that the British and Canadians had decided to land at Calais rather than joining the Americans landing at Normandy. What a disaster it would have been.
Those involved in the care of patients need to go back to first principles and decide what approach gives ethical science-based care the best chance of survival. What approach preserves Liberty and does not lead us down the road to serfdom? In my view, as stated many times, going back to my first testimony to Congress in 1976, the more government involvement in Medicine, the worse off we are.
Never forget Section 1801 in original Medicare Law found at 42 U.S.C. 1395: Prohibition against any Federal interference
…Nothing …shall be construed to authorize any Federal officer of employee to exercise any supervision or control over the practice of medicine or the manner in which medical services are provided, … or compensation of any…person providing health services…
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Law passed. Promises made and put into law and subsequently broken.
This may give you some indication why so many individuals and groups of practicing physicians are forming new entities and coalitions and speaking out. Those individuals are practicing medicine and realize the current environment and the new rules and regulations are impossible for the practice of medicine that puts the patient in control with the doctor as trusted advisor.
The end. And yes, some will get off the list because they disagree. So be it.
Live long and prosper. Hug a loved one today.
Donald
P.S. Interview went well today. Tip of the hat to Dr. Jerry Goldstein who caught typo in last night’s DJP Update. Today, the 23, is Friday, not Thursday. Errors happen when tired! Thanks, Jerry. I corrected it at blog site: www.DJPupdate.com
Stay well.
Donald
Some past selected DJP Updates can be found at: http://donaldpalmisano.com/djp_update/
Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD
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