[Pophealth] Bullying - a National Pastime

[Robert C Bowman]

United Health Care has been choosing certain medical schools and health
systems as targets.

Of course they are "hoping to keep costs down" but there is no guarantee
that the cost savings will be distributed to the insured or the companies
who purchase insurance.

After months of deliberations about local health care contracts, United
made an unexpected move that will cost the state of Nebraska millions. They
took UNMC off the transplant center list. This was of course not about
quality. It was punitive. Transplants are not my favorite item, nor is this
likely to be a favorite for any on this list, but inequities are a major
concern for this list and for everyone.

Current lawsuits against other major insurers are now pending for deceptive
reasons. The companies push a focus on quality but the measurements used
are all about costs, and short term costs at that.

Your choices - buy stock in health insurance companies, get employed by
them, reform them, or nationalize insurance.

Robert C. Bowman, M.D.
rbowman at unmc.edu