Strangers

by digby

I’m looking at a “Situation Room” chyron right now that says:

“Strangers Could Decide Your Coverage — Controversial idea for health council.”

Is there anyone out there who personally knows the people who decide your coverage? Does the current system, whereby your employer picks the policy and the procedures are approved by faceless insurance company clerks give people a lot of personal say in that regard? I don’t think so.

As it turns out, this misleading chyron is actually referring to proposed changes in Medicare, which would remove the decisions about reimbursement rates from congress and give it to an independent health board. Wonks I trust seem to think this could be helpful in containing costs. I don’t have an opinion. But I do know that the idea that it’s the elderly people themselves who are deciding the medicare reimbursements and suddenly it’s going to be a bunch of strangers is patently absurd.

Right now decisions about reimbursements are being made by strangers known as “lobbyists” who are buying off your very good friend the congressman. I don’t think most people see that as medicine with a personal touch.

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