You misunderstand me. I NEVER suggested that the Robinson Patman act should cover the health insurance industry. I said that I did not believe that this act was the one that did in fact cover the health insurance industry. In no way am I defending the health insurance industry. I believe that the insurance industry needs to be closely examined and heavily regulated.
Currently, many insurance companies make it very difficult for the insured and/or medical providers to receive payment for covered services. The insurance companies make it difficult for the insured, and for human resources departments, and for business office personnel in medical offices to know what is and is not covered and under what circumstances. In too many cases, insurance companies determine the course of treatment, not the medical practitioner. This adds up to more expensive and less efficient (and sometimes less effective) medical care. It isn't the doctors who are making the money. It's the insurance companies.
I know that the insurance industry, among others, is adept in its lobbying efforts. It is time to hold legislators accountable. We are all paying a pretty heavy price.
Terri Hyle
From: "Duane M. Peterson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "terri hyle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: FW: [Winona] It's the Insurance Companies
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 20:57:16 -0600
Terri,
The history of the regulation of insurance companies is fraught with a
history of avoiding ANY Federal regulation. They have been regulated by the
various states, and have a checkered history of success and failure to
influence regulation. Generally, they have supported regulation that makes
it difficult for any new competition to get licensed by a state, but they
have resisted strongly consumer protection, the right of individuals to have
access to the courts, and have consistently supported so called "Tort
Reform" which limits the right of consumers to sue for wrongs.
You may be right in wanting the Robinson Patman act to cover health (and maybe other insurance companies) but such an effort will meet with a gargantuan lobbying effort to prevent it. ----- Original Message ----- From: "terri hyle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 20:38 Subject: Re: FW: [Winona] It's the Insurance Companies
> [Winona Online Democracy]
>
> I have never questioned whether insurance companies fixed prices or
indeed,
> determined which medical therapies would or would not be available to
which
> patients. This is obviously true and obviously wrong. It should be
> illegal. My only point is whether the Robinson Patman act was the act
which
> would govern the health insurance industry.
>
> Terri Hyle
>
>
>
>
> >From: "Paul Double" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: "Online Democracy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Subject: FW: [Winona] It's the Insurance Companies
> >Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 17:39:05 -0600
> >
> >Terry,
> >
> >Robinson Patman Act is much broader than retail stores and goods.
> >
> >In 1938 some Non Profit Hospitals and others were exempted in the "Non
> >Profit Institutions Act" see this link.
> >
> >http://www.lawmall.com/rpa/rpadrugs.html
> >
> >A later ruling in the courts conclude however that government purchases
> >were
> >"not" exempt since they were not specifically mentioned in the exemption
as
> >a non profit. This could mean that VA prices, as an example, could be
used
> >to enforce anticompetitive wholesale prices to drugstores.
> >
> >The FTC Antitrust Actions in Health Care Services and Products October,
> >2003
> >is now released. I just downloaded a copy 105 pages and invite others to
> >do
> >the same. I think Terri will find a great deal of FTC information that
> >supports RP for services as well. If RP has any gaps the Sherman or
> >Clayton
> >Acts appear to able to fill them and drive the message home to the
source.
> >It will in fact extend the rules to protect not only businesses engaged
in
> >competition but discriminatory consumer prices and practices as well.
> >
> >This is the address for the report.
> >
> >http://www.ftc.gov/bc/hcupdate031024.pdf
> >
> >If, anyone after reading these published government reports, viewing
> >several
> >court cases which apply to healthcare "services" and still doesn't see
> >price
> >manipulation and restraint of trade by insurance companies and their
> >intimidation of providers by their contracts with them then maybe a visit
> >from the healthcare division of the FTC to Minnesota is due.
> >
> >Paul Double
> >
> >From: terri hyle [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2003 11:03 PM
> >
> >My understanding of the Robinson Patman act is that it specifically was
> >designed to exclude such things as medical and legal services. The
> >Robinson
> >
> >Patman act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1936 to supplement the
> >Clayton Antitrust Act . The act forbade any person or firm engaged in
> >interstate commerce to discriminate in price to different purchasers of
the
> >same commodity when the effect would be to lessen competition or to
create
> >a
> >
> >monopoly. The purpose of the act was to protect independent retailers
from
> >chain-store competition, but it was also strongly supported by
wholesalers
> >eager to prevent large chain stores from buying directly from the
> >manufacturers for lower prices.
> >
> >There are lots of citations on the web, but a law library or attorney
well
> >versed in anti trust law would be a better source.
> >
> >Terri Hyle
> ><< winmail.dat >>
>
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