EDITOR’S NOTE: Ron Howrigon, who like me worked for Cigna and other big insurers, will be a regular contributor to HEALTH CARE un-covered. - Wendell Potter Hello, my name is Ron Howrigon and I’m a recovering managed care executive. My last day working for managed care was 20 years and 1 day ago.
I'm beyond speechless... as we prepare to leave medicine permanently my hope is that future doctors will not have to be treated the way my husband has been- BY PAYORS. It's unconscionable and there is absolutely zero justification for forcing doctors to beg for the smallest reimbursement. I fear we are either going to a completely self pay system or we will lose all doctors, at least the really good ones.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for speaking out. It takes a special kind of courage to state what you did.
So refreshing to hear from someone with a conscience. I hope your story will have a ripple effect and that you, Wendell, and other whistleblowers can inspire others to come forward.
Thank you for your comments. I am very appreciative for this platform and more importantly for the great work that Wendell and others have done to blaze this trail. Together we can hopefully fix some of the things that are wrong with how we provide health care in this country.
My youngest daughter just texted me that her primary doctor’s office was sold to a corporate entity. Now, they are only taking Medicare and Medicaid patients. They don’t want the private health insurance business anymore. I read that the health insurance companies like the government health business because they pay quickly. Besides, old people bring in more business.
Medicare and Medicaid are a mixed bag. On the plus side they tend to be consistant and pay quickly without alot of the hoops that commercial carriers make doctors jump through. In a few markets they actually pay better than the commercial carriers. In most markets Medicare and Medicaid pay the lowest rates so some providers are moving away from these to more commercial carrier business. This sort of disfunction is one of the problems with our current system
Wow, I've spent 7 years in managed care in dentistry. And very often. It mirrors what you wrote. My favorite was when they developed something called edits, Which were a device to go ahead, and save money for the company and screw the doctors and patients, This was accomplished by modifying the agreement that was done the contract that was done with the doctors. I would love to meet up with you and discuss all the goodies. I'm currently working in ohio now
The calculated strategies to slowly shave away at physicians reimbursement over the years has been amazing. They are so bold. They are so conniving. I can just imagine their sniveling chuckles as they sit in their meetings talking about how to improve their margins.Aetna/BCBS/Cigna/Humana and United are financial organizations, not health care organizations. Patients pay more in premiums while doctors make less in claims! What a deal! Win win!
FTC needs to dice up their vertical structuring, because now the gang of five insurers now want to employ your doctors. Scary as shit factoid: United Health Group employees 10% of US physicians.
I don’t have to tell y’all you don’t want your doctor to be owned by your insurance company.
I’ve spent my career working toward a single payor system. I don’t want the single payor to be United Health Group. Go Lina Khan- break them up!
I agree. I actually had an insurance executive try to get one of my primary care clients in a rural area to take a risk based contract for Medicaid. The executive actually had the audacity to say; "Its time for the doctors to have some skin in the game." It was all I could do to maintain some level of professionalism.
For-profit health insurance should be illegal.
I'm beyond speechless... as we prepare to leave medicine permanently my hope is that future doctors will not have to be treated the way my husband has been- BY PAYORS. It's unconscionable and there is absolutely zero justification for forcing doctors to beg for the smallest reimbursement. I fear we are either going to a completely self pay system or we will lose all doctors, at least the really good ones.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for speaking out. It takes a special kind of courage to state what you did.
Thank you and your husband for doing the important work that you do
So refreshing to hear from someone with a conscience. I hope your story will have a ripple effect and that you, Wendell, and other whistleblowers can inspire others to come forward.
You are a new hero in my eyes. I wish the media would allow you to tell your stories on the all forms of media.
Bernie was correct all along about how profits are put before giving great healthcare to the American people.
Thank you for your comments. I am very appreciative for this platform and more importantly for the great work that Wendell and others have done to blaze this trail. Together we can hopefully fix some of the things that are wrong with how we provide health care in this country.
My youngest daughter just texted me that her primary doctor’s office was sold to a corporate entity. Now, they are only taking Medicare and Medicaid patients. They don’t want the private health insurance business anymore. I read that the health insurance companies like the government health business because they pay quickly. Besides, old people bring in more business.
Medicare and Medicaid are a mixed bag. On the plus side they tend to be consistant and pay quickly without alot of the hoops that commercial carriers make doctors jump through. In a few markets they actually pay better than the commercial carriers. In most markets Medicare and Medicaid pay the lowest rates so some providers are moving away from these to more commercial carrier business. This sort of disfunction is one of the problems with our current system
I recall our employer’s health insurance plan paid less than Medicare for the same procedures.
So, once again, profit over healthcare for us.
I’m looking forward to reading your work!
Wow, I've spent 7 years in managed care in dentistry. And very often. It mirrors what you wrote. My favorite was when they developed something called edits, Which were a device to go ahead, and save money for the company and screw the doctors and patients, This was accomplished by modifying the agreement that was done the contract that was done with the doctors. I would love to meet up with you and discuss all the goodies. I'm currently working in ohio now
Please feel free to contact me. r.howrigon@fsdoc.com
The calculated strategies to slowly shave away at physicians reimbursement over the years has been amazing. They are so bold. They are so conniving. I can just imagine their sniveling chuckles as they sit in their meetings talking about how to improve their margins.Aetna/BCBS/Cigna/Humana and United are financial organizations, not health care organizations. Patients pay more in premiums while doctors make less in claims! What a deal! Win win!
FTC needs to dice up their vertical structuring, because now the gang of five insurers now want to employ your doctors. Scary as shit factoid: United Health Group employees 10% of US physicians.
I don’t have to tell y’all you don’t want your doctor to be owned by your insurance company.
I’ve spent my career working toward a single payor system. I don’t want the single payor to be United Health Group. Go Lina Khan- break them up!
I agree. I actually had an insurance executive try to get one of my primary care clients in a rural area to take a risk based contract for Medicaid. The executive actually had the audacity to say; "Its time for the doctors to have some skin in the game." It was all I could do to maintain some level of professionalism.
“Skin in the game”!!!! WTF they think medicine is about????
Thanks again. You keep writing and I’ll keep reading!🌻with all of us we can move the needle