Allen Robbins

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  Allen commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

  Blog Debate: "An Obsolete Model"

  From Allen Robbins
  
  From Allen Robbins
  My evaluation of HR 676
  
  Actually H.R. 676 has been around since the 1940’s. Back then it was called the Prepaid Group Practice System. Subscribers (NYC workers about 750,000) had their health covered with no-co pays, no-deductibles and no claim forms, FULL COVERAGE and free drugs were added in the late 1960’s. The 750,000 members generated about 2.5 million office visits annually.
  
  This means that the new 47 million people will generate 155 million office visits annually to an already overburdened (112,000 GP Physicians and 588,000 Specialists) health care system. Physicians could see 10 to 12 patients an hour as compared to 5 to 8 patients now seen at some very busy offices.
  
  Prepaid Group Practice System (H.R. 676) has already been tried in New York for NYC Employees and shown to be documented failure.
  
  HIP of New Jersey-Failed, HIP of Florida-Failed and now HIP was forced to merge with GHI.
  
  Example: HIP of NY started in 1947 and by the early 1960’s so many complaints from the rank and file union people that were complaining and requested the City of New York to offer more choice. The Group Health Insurance plan was included as a choice for all city workers. The biggest complaint about HIP (HR676) was too many people had to wait three months for an annual checkup. This is one of many reasons why we cannot repeat the same errors again.
  
  NOTE: Medicare now is a comprehensive health system and most members do not want to be forced to change their insurance plan or doctor. They represent one of the largest voting blocks, which you do not want to anger. A great many Labor Union jobs that would also be lost, estimated in the ten’s of thousands and in today’s economy that is unacceptable. No co-pays and no deductibles always lead to abuses and over utilization of services and longer wait times. A limit of say $15.00 co-pay or deductible should be enough to lower some abuses.
  
  I believe we can move forward in small steps. Because of the condition of the economy we must find ways that won’t cost the taxpayer any additional tax burden and save jobs.  We also need Universal Health Care Single Payer system without having massive layoffs (est. 500,000+), which is covered on Page 20 of HR 676.
  
  Our current economic concerns include the national debt, Social Security, corporate debt, mortgage debt and falling house prices. We cannot afford HR 676 to add to our current massive unemployment.
  
  There is currently only one group of physicians with 14,000 members supporting HR 676. What about all the other doctors?  What about 700,000 physicians nation wide? A recent study showed that 59% of Doctors support a single payer system not necessarily supporting HR 676.
  
  What if large numbers of Physicians don’t join and we start seeing $150 dollar per office visit? That could be a real possibility; I hope I’m wrong. We can’t force doctors to join.
  
  To my fellow Democrats:
  
  Please do not embarrass President Obama with the first possible VETO of his presidency. In an interview Obama said HR 676 is the following, “I’m not saying everything about HR 676 is bad, but the FUNDING MECHANISM IS FATALLY FLAWED” In this same interview Obama says “no one should be forced to sign up for insurance”. This is why we all should support Barack Obama’s Plan for a Healthy America.
  
  I’m for a single payer health care system that resembles the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHBP).  
  
  1. Where there is real CHOICE of programs and physicians.
  
  2. Cost efficient health delivery system, which the Federal Government monitors closely and has a proven track record of controlling cost for over 20 years.
  
  3. Quality is tightly controlled through an Accreditation Process (NCQA).
  
  4. Only the best insurance companies can sell insurance to federal employees.
  
  5. Low co-pays and low deductibles, which curbs over utilization.
  
  6. A National Forms Standard Board that set the standard for Enrollment, Medical Records and Billing that uses the most modern computer methods and all insurance companies use the same approved forms.
  
  7. FEHBP already has a proven track record of over 20 years that doesn’t turn the entire health care industry upside down and adds to the massive unemployment in this time of a national financial crisis and the jobless rate of over 5 million.
  
  8. Limit administrative cost to a maximum of 8% each premium dollar. Leaving 92% of premium dollars for providing health care. Offer a Million Dollars or one dollar per subscriber incentive for those who bring administrative costs below 5%.
  
  9. Physician incentives programs – Malpractice insurance, Education programs etc.
  
  10. To find ways building the Health Care info structure and relieve the current shortages for Physicians, Nurses and supporting technical staff currently we now have.
  
  11. The best way to really lower health costs is finding cures for the most debilitating illnesses that require long-term care and providing a cost effective Home Care network.
  
  Note:
  A. Item #6, 10 and 11 should save 100’s of Billions of Health Care Dollars.
  
  B. Can best of these two single payer systems be merged? I think not at this time because HR 676 is a too radical approach. So why not take some of the good parts of HR 676 and try to incorporate them into Barack Obama’s Plan for a Healthy America.
  
  As documented resources I have attached material to backup this up.
  http://www.heritage.org/Research/healthcare/bg1674.cfm
  
  I SAY NO TO HR 676 in its current form and we should recommend ONLY a National Single Payer Plan and make no mention of HR 676. We need Universal Health Care Single Payer system for America and that is what we all could support.
  
  As more people are finding out just how bad this concept is, and I’m sure it will have repercussions as large numbers of seniors are now getting angry. In my community we had an open discussion on health care and HR 676 hit the fan.
  
  Allen Robbins Background: I worked for the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (New York States largest HMO) from 1965 to retirement in 1996 and was kept on as a consultant working on the Federal Employees Health Care Benefit Program until 2002 FEHBP for all New York State Federal Employees.
  
  As part of my job description I was responsible for designing all medical records forms including Physician, Hospital and Enrollment forms as well as working closely with the Underwriting Department with all State and Federal fillings.
  
  I was also part of a team, which included a Pharmacy Department head, a Pharmacist and a Drug Committee and myself that created in 1993 HIP’s first Drug Formulary Book approved by New York State Insurance Department. Ten thousand Books (288 pages ea.) were printed. HIP saved over (TEN MILLION DOLLARS) the very first year it was implemented. This saving was passed along to members by keeping the premium rates down.
  
  I'm a current member of the Democratic Party Executive Legislative Committee in P.B.C. Florida.
  
  America desperately needs a Single-payer National Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (NOT H.R. 676 – Health Welfare Plan).  I hand delivered a two-page report to Congressmen Dennis Kucinich why H.R. 676 was doomed to failure. In this report, I showed serious problems with this approach. People want choice not forced to join a Not for Profit Health Welfare Plan or give up there current doctor and we definitely don’t want health care rationing.
  
  I always have an open mind. But remember I look at real documented facts and figures!