“The System Doesn’t Work, it’s Broke Today”
Imagine that. Yet another commie pinko socialist waxing poetic on the evils of corporate medicine. That’s what some would have you believe. Not! That was the Chairman, President and CEO of Aetna, Mark Bertolini. Yes, the Aetna we pointed out in a previous post recorded a 73% increase in profits last year. And yet another 1%’er on record as saying things need to change. He correctly points out our current healthcare system is akin to hockey game with all of the players, except the patient, in possession of their own puck, thus being what he calls “a nightmare” for the patient. In other words, it’s become more about the dollars and less about the patient. Until now. Because, as Mr. Bertolini points out, the current system is untenable.
He calls for the end of “the way we’ve run the business in the past” and advocates the movement away from the current system of underwriting risk to a system of managing populations, arguing “reform is not going to stop. It won’t go away.” In “measured praise” for the Affordable Health Care Act, he agreed that the “controversial medical loss ratio rules are having a smoothing effect on premium swings” and went on to say, “For most of what has already been implemented, it has been a pretty good thing.”
Medical providers and insurance providers are beginning to realize that the current system isn’t working and that sky didn’t fall with the passage of the Affordable Health Care Act. As Mr. Bertolini indicates, the changes have actually been positive, for the most part and have been a step in the right direction. His comments seem to indicate a willingness to adapt Aetna’s business model to fit a rapidly changing world. And for that, he is to be commended. It’s disappointing to note a number of our politicians do not share Mr. Bertolini’s opinion and only appear to be interested in defeating President Obama rather than in the health and welfare of their constituents. Which is stupid and shortsighted. Because constituents vote.
Yours truly,
Political ole lady
Related articles
- Insurance CEO Praises Affordable Care Act: ‘It Has Been A Pretty Good Thing’ (thinkprogress.org)
- Hello, Corporate Socialized Medicine (politicalolelady.com)
- Future of the insurance industry? (brycewilliams.wordpress.com)
- Aetna Reports 4th Quarter Profit 2011 Jumping 73 Percent (ducknetweb.blogspot.com)
