HMOS PUT PATIENTS FIRST

HMO Hype

"We believe that access to affordable, comprehensive care gives consumers the value they expect and contributes to the peace of mind that is essential for good health."
American Association of Health Plans (Philosophy of Health Care)

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"Americans want to know what they can expect from their health plans."
Karen Ignagni, President and CEO
American Association of Health Plans

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"We wisely manage our members’ health care dollars…We take pride in our commitment to financial stability and ethical business behavior."
David Lawrence, M.D., President & CEO
Kaiser Permanente Vision Statement

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"It’s important to introduce health plans to the principles of accountability and quality improvement early on, to ensure that these ideas become part of the culture of the organizations."
Margaret E. O’Kane, President
National Committee for Quality Assurance

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The Reality of How This Stuff Works

HMOs Put HMOs First

Every December, the American Association of Health Plans (an HMO interest group) holds an "International Summit on Managed Care Trends" at the historic Fontainbleau Hilton Resort and Towers in Miami Beach, Florida.  In 1998, the registration fee was $1,295.00 per delegate.  Each registrant was admitted to the welcome reception, international wine tasting, two networking afternoon social events, and two luncheons. In 1999, the registration fee escalated to $1,395 per delegate, nearly an 8 percent increase and well above inflation generally.

Daily Room Rates

Room Types

Single Room

Double Room

Tax
Ocean View 240.00 260.00 12.5%
Bay View 215.00 245.00 12.5%

What are the "benefits of attending the Summit?"

² Learning "stealth" healthcare rationing.
² Discussing managed care business opportunities.
² HMO executive "networking and global job connections."
² Managing consumers’ HMO perceptions.
² Sun, swim, surf in Miami Beach.


What is the Summit’s international debate topic?

"Resolved: American style managed care will fail internationally."

HARDBALL Questions

1. Ms. Ignagni, why do you believe that your global junket for senior HMO executives and politicians "puts patients first," given that the subject of patients rights and enforcement is absent from your agenda?
2. Ms Ignagni is this global junket what "Americans can expect from their health plans?"
3. Ms. Ignagni, how does this global junket give "consumers the peace of mind that is essential for good health?"
4. Dr. Lawrence, why don’t you start managing your "members’ health care dollars wisely" by approving tests and treatments and denying HMO executives’ global junkets?
5. Ms. O’Kane, do you approve of stealth healthcare rationing, senior HMO executives’ global job connections and management of consumers’ HMO perceptions becoming "part of the culture of health plans?"
6. Ms. O’Kane. why do you think that "accountability and quality improvement" are absent from the HMOs’ global junket agenda?

Responses will be published

Patients need help in exam rooms, not in hotel rooms.