A Sacred Trust
Health care reform begins with keeping the doctor-patient relationship strong TOM PRICE, M.D. “The doctor will be with you patients with the highest quality We have seen substantial shortly. He’s consulting with your care. The current system unevenly consolidation in the health insurance insurance company for a diagnosis leverages what insurance companies industry. In the past dozen years, the that’s allowed.” are – and are not – willing to pay for U.S. health insurance and managed While you may never hear those against what the patient needs. care industry has seen more than 400 words in your physician’s office, it The Quality Health Care acquisitions. With this increased is sadly not a far-fetched scenario in Coalition Act, reintroduced this concentration of power, individual today’s broken health care system. Congress, allows physicians to physicians are left facing large firms America is facing with little, if any, a mounting health leverage in contract care crisis, and negotiations. Private federal restrictions health care insurers are increasingly are important, and putting third parties increased coverage in between patients the private market is and their doctors. desirable. By sheer As a physician, I market size, however, have seen first-hand doctors are on an how our anti-trust uneven playing field. laws and increasing Too often patient g o v e r n m e n t needs are on the back intervention are burner as doctors face squeezing already “take-it-or-leave-it” tight access to contracts. health care. Federal In developing anti-trust laws exist health plan contracts to ensure that a few with insurance powerful businesses industry companies, Dr. Tom Price discusses health care at a Medicare seminar he hosted in his Georgia district. are not able to guidelines for use the muscle virtually every aspect of a monopoly to restrain supply negotiate together for health of patient care are established. The and artificially raise prices in the plan contracts. A critical part of inflexible terms of these contracts marketplace. These very laws, fundamental health care reform, often include limits on procedures however, are exacerbating our health this legislation will allow increased which doctors may offer – or even care crisis by denying physicians the choice for patients and doctors, discuss – because insurers deem ability to negotiate with insurance greater access to care, and much them unnecessary. This system companies on behalf of patients’ needed relief from spiraling medical allows insurance administrators to medical needs. costs. A bipartisan effort behind this overrule the best judgment of highly In recent years, the rapid growth and broader, comprehensive health trained medical professionals and of consolidation in the insurance care reform is essential if we are suppress patient choice in care. I industry has put patients at risk by going to restore a patient-centered can attest from my years as an denying doctors the ability to treat health care system. orthopaedic surgeon that allowing 22
RIPON FORUM February/March 2008