I would view the AHIP info much differently but you probably won't like my observation. I checked out AHIP and believe they do have huge clout. It was interesting to read the list of 1300 insurance companies. Besides the life insurance folks...gimme a break this is health care....it is primarily BC/BS, CIGNA, United, and few more. They actually listed all the BC/BS entities per state and their subs, which was significant.
So let's just say this is BC/BS organization.As I'm sure you know insurance companies follow whatever policies CMS adopts, in terms of payment to Medicare/Medicaid. I understand that in the "negotiation" of getting buy in from AHA there was some promises about what would happen with a proposed Medicare cut a few months back. The cut was modified recently but not really that much to the hospitals benefit. It wouldn't surprise me if AHA/AMA stonewalling HC reform until they can have further impact on proposed Medicare reimbursement cuts.
So this is a very long way of me stating that AHIP probably doesn't want to be associated with HCA and Pharma (I said you wouldn't like it) as the big guns...AHA, AMA are silent despite a direct "beckoning" from our own VP. The word Clinton comes to mind in terms of not being able to get reform past certain point bcuz a lack of understanding about HC industry. Do you have different info?
AI
