July 31st, 2008
The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights held a hearing this afternoon to discuss the proposed merger between Highmark and IBC, titled “Consolidation in The Pennsylvania Health Insurance Industry: The Right Prescription?”
The speakers were:
Joe Frick, President and CEO, Independence Blue Cross
Kenneth R. Melani, M.D., President and CEO, Highmark Inc.
Carolyn Scanlan, President and CEO, Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
Samuel R. Marshall, President and CEO, Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
David A. Balto, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, Washington, DC
Henry Allen, Counsel, Private Sector Advocacy Department, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL
Michael Laign, President and CEO, Holy Redeemer Health System, Huntingdon Valley, PA
Henry Miller, Managing Director, Navigant Consulting, Inc., Baltimore, MD
Barry Harris, Principal and Board Chairman, Economists Inc., Washington, DC
To read each speakers’ testimony, visit the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Check back tomorrow for more details on the hearing!
August 1st, 2008 at 11:45 am
William D. Hawes
1025 Elm Court
Oakdale, Pa 15071
412-200-2512
wdhm19@comcast.net
The struggle of public, universal, affordable healthcare continues in Pennsylvania & the nation.
Competition is a central issue today in Pennsylvania as it is in the nation
It is my view that to create power is to divide power.
Many new ideas come to pass when increased competition is created.
The United States senate can act as we all can act to create a better healthcare system than we now have today.
I have spoken before the Pennsylvania Insurance department about actions that can be taken on the state level. (Refer to the Pennsylvania web site William Hawes proposals)
There is much that can be done on the federal level as well.
A standardized claims form with common central codes that all health insurance companies and all health providers can use must be a national goal.
In Pennsylvania competition can be increased by opening up provider networks so companies such as Capital Blue Cross of Harrisburg can do business state wide in Pennsylvania.
The federal government must support in my view others such as Capital Blue Cross of Harrisburg to bid on health care business state wide in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania can be a model for other states in regards to Community pools for Community rating (spreading the risk by state and by region.)
Doing away with pre-existing conditions. Each of us must help all of us.
Our constitution for over 200 years is a model to the world for its checks and balances.
In Pennsylvania as in the nation we must all stand now for that model in business & community. The health of our nation depends on it this is no less true than the proposed merger of Highmark &IBC
Sincerely,
William D. Hawes