So says Robert Laszewski, a long-time health insurance executive, now lobbyist. Not content with "It's a bonanza," Laszewski also says that
the industry's reaction to early negotiations boils down to a single word: "Hallelujah!"
Not to quibble, but that's two words: "Bonanza!" and "Hallelujah!" Okay, one word: Screwed.
According to today's Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, the medical profiteers are all but firing their six-shooters in the air and shouting "yeehaw!" as they declare victory over the American people.
(The headline of the article by Tom Hamburger and Kim Geiger on page A5, is "Health insurers to gain handsomely in plans." I've looked everywhere for a link, but it appears to be subscription-only. For some reason this article, and not the rest of today's paper, is subscription-only. Can't imagine why.)
The article exudes the braggadocio of a sector feeling itself on the verge of a major win. And why not? From the moment Democrats won the White House and large majorities in both houses of Congress medical industries knew that they would face reform. So instead of fighting it they climbed on that horse early. Indeed, they strategically helped whip up enthusiasm and the early sense of momentum and inevitability for reform and played on Democrats' eagerness to pass historic health care legislation. They got Democrats boxed in by their own ambitions.
The key to the industry's success came in two parts: By pressing the case early, the insurers managed to define the debate over critical issues on their own terms. And, by working on a pivotal bloc of players in Congress, they positioned themselves to insert beneficial details in the drafting process.
Having thus positioned themselves and help build momentum and the gratitude of Democrats for their seeming acquiescence, it's been a relatively simple matter for them to steer that momentum, to undermine public support for the public option, and now to be on the verge of winning a reduction in the rate of payment on claims from 76% to 65%.
The medical profiteers have been gaming this fight for years. When President Obama initiated it, they were ready. They were not reactive but proactive. It is we who have been reactive. Unfortunately it has also seemed that the administration has been more reactive than proactive. I have the feeling that Obama fancied himself in the lead position. I don't think he realized that by the time he entered the race industry was already running flat out.