If recently announced mergers among the nation’s largest health insurers are approved, the industry “will be an industry dominated by three colossal insurers” – an outcome that consumer advocates, policy experts and former regulators say could be harmful to consumers, the New York Times (8/3) reports. Moreover, the Anthem-Cigna and Aetna-Humana deals come “in the wake of a similar frenzy of deal-making among hospitals and doctors’ groups.” Experts caution that the merger could reduce competition and lead to higher prices, but the insurers argue that “sweeping changes in the market caused by the federal health care law, including greater government oversight and intense pressure to keep prices low,” would protect consumers.
From the Times article: “The consolidation in both of these industries has been shown to have an adverse impact on consumers,” said Leemore S. Dafny, a former official at the Federal Trade Commission who is now a professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Blogfinger Medical Commentary: Paul Goldfinger, MD, FACC
If I were writing that headline, it would read “Heath insurer mergers raise concerns over competition, prices, consumer services, and quality care.” Certain medical centers around the country are also offering health insurance. The bigger these healthcare providers/insurers get, the more problems there are for patients, and the more the traditional physician patient relationship gets compromised.
Some of you have already seen the effects of current healthcare changes such as unavailability of doctors, robot like medical assistants, distracting and disappointing electronic records,worrisome cost cutting measures, placing barriers between the doctors and their patients, denial of care such as tests that a doctor might order, pushing doctors aside and using physician extenders such as PA’s instead, removal of physicians from the patient care decision making process, and finally, through coercion, turning doctors into employees following mandatory practice guidelines.
Keep your eyes open and practice defensive medicine for yourself and your family.
Paul
Five years ago I was hospitalized for 3 weeks after being hit by a car – when I inquired of the nurse what the doctor’s name was, he informed me he was a PA not a Dr.
After leaving the hospital, I wrote a letter to the CEO of the hospital regarding my concerns. He responded to my letter & told me they didn’t have control over this issue & we would be seeing more PA ‘s taking the place of Dr’s in the future. His words have prophetically come true.