From Media Matters
“During the March 3 edition of Fox News' Special Report, correspondent Molly Henneberg reported on the opposition President Obama's health-care reform plan faces from the nonprofit organization Conservatives for Patients' Rights and stated: "Democrats control the White House and Congress, and they want Government-run health-care programs. Republicans may need groups like Conservatives for Patients' Rights — and their ads — to encourage public support for free-market solutions." In fact, the Democrats who "control the White House" have not proposed "government-run health-care programs." Indeed, according to the White House health-care Web page: "On health care reform, the American people are too often offered two extremes — government-run health care with higher taxes or letting the insurance companies operate without rules. President Obama and Vice President Biden believe both of these extremes are wrong
“Host Bret Baier introduced Henneberg's report by stating that Conservatives for Patients' Rights is launching "a multimillion-dollar advertising offensive." The report included a video clip of the group's chairman, Richard Scott, saying, "What ultimately happens is, the government always runs out of money, because they offer too much, and they offer — and so they always run out of money, so then they end up having to ration." Henneberg reported that Scott ‘started the Solantic urgent care centers in Florida,’” but failed to mention how he created an empire of Medical fraud. (See my post below)
The conservatives have every right to organize opposition to health care reform. But tapping someone like Scott as their leader—without disclosing his background—means that they are reverting to old bad habits: Lying to the American People.
Perhaps Fox News will say “we didn’t know.”
They don’t know how to Google?
It’s the same old status quo protecting their revenue stream. Keep these blogs coming, Maggie, this is such bu******. It just makes me so mad. Richard Scott represents the very same evil-doers than ran the hospital my husband was in, the same arrogant pricks that run the entire chain of hospitals my husband was in. I wouldn’t be surprised if they joined this phony “Patient Rights” campaign of Richard Scott’s, all so they can continue to bring in massive amounts of money at the expense of human life, and they disguise it as “Patient Rights” it’s like kicking dirt in our face and spitting on us after they botched our surgery, gave us a life-threatening bloodstream infections and charged us for the additional days in ICU to boot.
Maggie, you should have been on Fox News right alongside Rick Scott. I can see the two of you on Bill Mahar having a spirited debate. Nobody else can expose that naked emperor better than you. Does TCF have a publicity person? What about your publisher? Hey, what about Oscar-winner Alex Gibney, surely he’s got a media contact or two can can get you some bookings? This “Conservatives for Patients Rights” needs to be squelched before it even gets started. Any media reading this post, here’s your next two guests: Rick Scott and Maggie Mahar, or should I say Rick Scott vs Maggie Mahar.
I went and took a look at Rick’s website. His Patient Rights are Choice, Competition, Accountability, Personal Responsibilty. Personal Responsiblity isn’t a “right” and certainly not a patient right, so that’s dumb. Choice, what’s that got to do with patient rights? We are all free to choose just about anything we want, we live in a free country. “Competition” again, part of a capitalist system. “Accountability” now you know that got my attention, I couldn’t wait to see what he had to say about that. Here’s his definition of “Accountability” Making health care services more accessible, transparent and open through standardized insurance claims forms and equal tax breaks for individuals and companies will control costs by helping consumers and businesses compare “apples to apples” across the health care spectrum.
Huh? Everybody has to use the same insurance form? Hurrah! Medical Errors have been eradicated. Patient Advocates rejoice, Rick Scott’s after justice, he will make sure there’s at long last accountability in health care because everybody has to use the same form! Why didn’t I think of that!?!
The Washington Post tells us today that Obama has a more modest approach to health care reform than what the cynical pharma industry says or the likes of Richard Scott’s “socialized medicine” fear mongering.
And because of this more modest approach, the health industry is voicing support for Obama’s plan. It has attracted support from insurers, hospitals and players in the powerful medical lobby.
And, according to WP, the lure for the industry is the prospect of tens of millions of new customers (the greed incentive). Those newly insured people will get checkups, purchase medicine, undergo physical therapy and get surgeries they couldn’t afford before.
White House aides say that everyone will share in the sacrifice so that no one would lose too much. Health care reform is a key to restoring economic health and that real reform will require every American to have reliable health insurance.
Here is some good news showing that some sanity is left in the courts. We talked about this here before!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/washington/05scotus.html?_r=1&ref=health
1995 IS NOT 2009
We are in much worse shape.
So the scare tactics and lies won’t fly now.
Change WILL happen this time around. Enough “stars are aligned”
Dr. Rick Lippin
Southampton,PA
I have been an RN for 33 years and can atest to the dire need to fix this huge mess we ALL made. Now is the time! Our economy can no longer tolerate the “Wall Street” greed of huge corporations that have purchased large numbers of community hospitals. Community Health Systems owns about 130+ community hospitals. They put little, to nothing, into the community they “serve” but instead serve up plates of cash to the corporate office. You rightly can rip on the banks for bonus money. It is no different in these hospitals. Management forces employees to take time off so that productivity equals a 6 figure bonus for them.
An average daily censes of 45 patients equals $11 million in revenue. That isn’t “billable revenue” but actual “cash in hand”. That’s the target from Corporate—and we meet it!
Reform is definitely needed these days. I doubt if health care reform under Obama will result to a ‘government controlled only’ program.
A very good read:
http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/from_the_director.htm
Why does this matter? Because the wrath of Richard Scott’s fraud just ended in December 2008 in the largest private financial fraud case in our country’s history in 2002 when FBI raided the offices of National Century Financial Enterprises Dublin, Ohio, headquarters.
Guess where Columbia and many of the other publicly traded healthcare companies DUMPED their losing asset, Home healthcare? National Century Financial Enterprises
National Century Financial Enterprises:
“This case is one of the largest corporate fraud investigations involving a privately held company headquartered in small town America,” said Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.
The following is an excerpt from a 10-K SEC Filing, filed by J P MORGAN CHASE & CO on 3/9/2006: Enron litigation. JPMorgan Chase and certain of its officers and directors are involved in a number of lawsuits arising out of its banking relationships with Enron Corp.; the three current or former Firm employees are sued in their roles as former members of NCFE’s board of directors
March 26, 2008; By Jodi Andes; THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Nine other executives have been convicted or pleaded guilty in National Century’s collapse. Only Poulsen and executive James Happ still await trial.
Only Poulsen and executive James Happ still await trial?
December 9, 2008. James K. Happ, 48, is charged with conspiracy, money-laundering conspiracy and three counts of wire fraud; the 11th National Century executive to be tried or admit guilt. , Also today, a former friend of Happ’s testified that, while working at National Century, Happ boasted that he never could be charged with any fraud because he didn’t sign anything.
December 18, 2008 – The ONE AND ONLY acquittal; James K Happ!
By Jodi Andes THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Prosecutors’ case fell short, juror says National Century fraud case produces 1st acquittal ; The “not guilty” verdicts that came in federal court yesterday were not so much a vindication of the last National Century Financial Enterprises executive to stand trial, a juror said.
Instead, they were more a belief that federal prosecutors had not done their job, the juror said after he and his fellow jurors acquitted James K. Happ of five counts after 12 hours of deliberation. “He very well may have been guilty. A lot of us thought he was,” said the juror who wouldn’t give his name. “But if he was, you gotta have the evidence.”
Who is James K Happ? Where was James K Happ when Richard Scott was at Columbia in 1997?
NG & Johanne–
Thanks for your comments.
NG–thanks much.
Johanne-
You are absolutely right. There is no way that the Obama adminisration will create a “govt only controlled program.”
Some conservatives try to say that as part of thier fear-mongering But it is just not happening.