I'm certainly not advocating murder in any way, but with that preface, it is probably not any big mystery as to why the CEO of United Health was shot yesterday. Apparently the bullet casings left at the scene were inscribed with three words: Defend, Deny, Depose. In time, we will probably have a definitive answer as to motive. But -- based on those three words, on the known ruthless denials of healthcare that are endemic to UHC (and other insurers), and in talking with friends/neighbors yesterday about this event -- every single one said that the first thing that came to mind was that the shooter was someone who lost a family member due to UHC's hardcore denial of services/treatments/claims/payments. Brian Thompson was obviously murdered quickly and "in cold blood." But there are other ways to extinguish a life, and denial of care is certainly one of them. If this was/is the case, the suspect list is going to be in the tens of thousands.
It is utterly psychopathic and ghoulish to put a time-limit on anesthesia. Just as ghoulish as cutting off cancer treatments, or needed heart-surgery, or physical therapy, or mental health counseling, or spinal injections, or kidney dialysis, or -- or -- or -- all of the procedures that The Big Five have algorithms to categorically and routinely deny. They are vultures feeding off the sick, the dying, even the dead. I will refrain from further comment, other than to say that there is an ironic, allegorical element to this particular assassination.
"Over the past several years, big for-profit insurers have gotten bolder in their refusal to pay for needed medical care. If we don’t push back now, the next patient on the operating table being refused pain relief by their insurance company could be you or someone you love." Any thoughts on what this pushback could look like to be effective? I am very interested in coordinating a collective effort.
As someone who has experienced the healthcare system both as a patient and advocate, I am deeply concerned by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s recent decision to limit anesthesia coverage for certain surgeries in Connecticut, New York, and Missouri. This policy, which introduces arbitrary time limits on anesthesia services, places unnecessary financial burdens on patients and compromises the quality of care.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has rightly called this out as a "cynical money grab." By prioritizing profits over patient care, insurance companies risk undermining the critical, life-saving services that anesthesiologists provide during complex procedures. As Dr. Donald E. Arnold, President of ASA, aptly stated, this decision "disregards the real-life complexities of medical care."
Healthcare policies should always be driven by the goal of improving patient outcomes, not limiting access or increasing out-of-pocket expenses. We must continue advocating for a system where patient care is the top priority. It's crucial that we remain vigilant in holding insurers accountable to ensure that patient well-being is always at the forefront of healthcare decisions.
This seems like a good time to find other insurance companies, only then will you get their attention,
First concerns for these major insurers: shareholders and the C-suite. “More for me and less for thee.” Sounds just like UHC, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and a few others.
We all agree that Anthem, along with the other insurance companies, is/are out of control. However, I experienced a clear money-grab from an anesthesiologist as part of a shoulder surgery. The anesthesiologist wanted to take me back to the OR Preop to administer a nerve block which would require IV anesthesia. When I questioned the procedure, he explained this was “safer” than administering the block as part of surgery. When I asked if my two prior shoulder surgeries had been done without my safety as a primary concern given that the blocks were done as part of the surgeries, the anesthesiologist left the room in a huff. Shortly thereafter a nurse thanked me for doing the right thing. The surgical center could bill my insurance company twice for separate procedures if I went back twice. That would have left me with two copays along with additional physical pain from the block.
In my neurosurgery practice, I had one young lady whose brain tumor required a total of 41 hours in 2 stages to remove. I imagine the insurance company might allot 8 hours total for that and feel generous. Ridiculous.
Apparently CT & NYS are being spared this draconian policy from Anthem BCBS for now. What about Missouri? Let’s go! We cannot let up on the pressure! I had Anthem BCBS for many years & was denied denied denied so much. I had 2 concussions in 2022- the year of many falls for me-and could not get a head CT. I’m now disabled. Maybe I have CTE. It’s been over a year since my last fall. Shame on you Anthem BCBS. Do not meter anesthesia in any state!
Once upon a time Americans decided that their local physicians were making too much money. The insurance companies, once mostly working for unions said they'd make our medical care cheaper. Now the insurance companies are not only too large, to expensive, and not giving enough medical care to be termed medical anything. So, it is time for Americans to find another way. << no idea of where to start but America pays the most and gets less >>
The unmitigated rapaciousness of health insurance companies continues to astound me. We need to demand that our representatives in the House and Senate join Sen. Bernie Sanders in support of Medicare for All, the non-profit "public option" for American health insurance:
Very often complications will develop and the surgery will be prolonged. Is the doctor supposed to stop the surgery, prematurely, because of a time limit on anesthesia.
Also, the idea of setting universal time limits is absurd. Different patients have different needs. Performing task X on a patient with tons of fat might be a whole lot longer because the surgeon must get cut through so much fat. What is he supposed to do. Write a damn note explaining why the surgery took longer. I wish they had mentioned this stuff in the course of the desultory last election.
In any event, please see this article re the killing of the CEO of United Health Care
I'm certainly not advocating murder in any way, but with that preface, it is probably not any big mystery as to why the CEO of United Health was shot yesterday. Apparently the bullet casings left at the scene were inscribed with three words: Defend, Deny, Depose. In time, we will probably have a definitive answer as to motive. But -- based on those three words, on the known ruthless denials of healthcare that are endemic to UHC (and other insurers), and in talking with friends/neighbors yesterday about this event -- every single one said that the first thing that came to mind was that the shooter was someone who lost a family member due to UHC's hardcore denial of services/treatments/claims/payments. Brian Thompson was obviously murdered quickly and "in cold blood." But there are other ways to extinguish a life, and denial of care is certainly one of them. If this was/is the case, the suspect list is going to be in the tens of thousands.
It is utterly psychopathic and ghoulish to put a time-limit on anesthesia. Just as ghoulish as cutting off cancer treatments, or needed heart-surgery, or physical therapy, or mental health counseling, or spinal injections, or kidney dialysis, or -- or -- or -- all of the procedures that The Big Five have algorithms to categorically and routinely deny. They are vultures feeding off the sick, the dying, even the dead. I will refrain from further comment, other than to say that there is an ironic, allegorical element to this particular assassination.
"Over the past several years, big for-profit insurers have gotten bolder in their refusal to pay for needed medical care. If we don’t push back now, the next patient on the operating table being refused pain relief by their insurance company could be you or someone you love." Any thoughts on what this pushback could look like to be effective? I am very interested in coordinating a collective effort.
As someone who has experienced the healthcare system both as a patient and advocate, I am deeply concerned by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s recent decision to limit anesthesia coverage for certain surgeries in Connecticut, New York, and Missouri. This policy, which introduces arbitrary time limits on anesthesia services, places unnecessary financial burdens on patients and compromises the quality of care.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has rightly called this out as a "cynical money grab." By prioritizing profits over patient care, insurance companies risk undermining the critical, life-saving services that anesthesiologists provide during complex procedures. As Dr. Donald E. Arnold, President of ASA, aptly stated, this decision "disregards the real-life complexities of medical care."
Healthcare policies should always be driven by the goal of improving patient outcomes, not limiting access or increasing out-of-pocket expenses. We must continue advocating for a system where patient care is the top priority. It's crucial that we remain vigilant in holding insurers accountable to ensure that patient well-being is always at the forefront of healthcare decisions.
This seems like a good time to find other insurance companies, only then will you get their attention,
#PatientAdvocacy #HealthPolicy #Insurance #HealthcareReform #CancerCare
First concerns for these major insurers: shareholders and the C-suite. “More for me and less for thee.” Sounds just like UHC, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and a few others.
We all agree that Anthem, along with the other insurance companies, is/are out of control. However, I experienced a clear money-grab from an anesthesiologist as part of a shoulder surgery. The anesthesiologist wanted to take me back to the OR Preop to administer a nerve block which would require IV anesthesia. When I questioned the procedure, he explained this was “safer” than administering the block as part of surgery. When I asked if my two prior shoulder surgeries had been done without my safety as a primary concern given that the blocks were done as part of the surgeries, the anesthesiologist left the room in a huff. Shortly thereafter a nurse thanked me for doing the right thing. The surgical center could bill my insurance company twice for separate procedures if I went back twice. That would have left me with two copays along with additional physical pain from the block.
"Fee for service" isn't the best way to pay for healthcare.
In my neurosurgery practice, I had one young lady whose brain tumor required a total of 41 hours in 2 stages to remove. I imagine the insurance company might allot 8 hours total for that and feel generous. Ridiculous.
Apparently CT & NYS are being spared this draconian policy from Anthem BCBS for now. What about Missouri? Let’s go! We cannot let up on the pressure! I had Anthem BCBS for many years & was denied denied denied so much. I had 2 concussions in 2022- the year of many falls for me-and could not get a head CT. I’m now disabled. Maybe I have CTE. It’s been over a year since my last fall. Shame on you Anthem BCBS. Do not meter anesthesia in any state!
Anthem Blue should take note that the CEO from United Healthcare was just murdered in NYC.
Was the killer a hitman hired by a disgruntled patient?
Healthcare should not be a profitable, greedy business at all.
Once upon a time Americans decided that their local physicians were making too much money. The insurance companies, once mostly working for unions said they'd make our medical care cheaper. Now the insurance companies are not only too large, to expensive, and not giving enough medical care to be termed medical anything. So, it is time for Americans to find another way. << no idea of where to start but America pays the most and gets less >>
The unmitigated rapaciousness of health insurance companies continues to astound me. We need to demand that our representatives in the House and Senate join Sen. Bernie Sanders in support of Medicare for All, the non-profit "public option" for American health insurance:
https://berniesanders.com/issues/medicare-for-all/
This is CRIMINAL.
Very often complications will develop and the surgery will be prolonged. Is the doctor supposed to stop the surgery, prematurely, because of a time limit on anesthesia.
Also, the idea of setting universal time limits is absurd. Different patients have different needs. Performing task X on a patient with tons of fat might be a whole lot longer because the surgeon must get cut through so much fat. What is he supposed to do. Write a damn note explaining why the surgery took longer. I wish they had mentioned this stuff in the course of the desultory last election.
In any event, please see this article re the killing of the CEO of United Health Care
https://davidgottfried.substack.com/p/decapitate-and-dethrone