No surprise here, is there, Ms. Varney? A hero emerges.
Those that obstructed "The Public Option" offered NO alternative to enhance competition. What did President Obama state about "The Public Option?"
He stated, it would provide competition to private health care insurance companies. Across the nation we have witnessed one company after another playing a game with consumers to attempt to stop the progress of the Health Care Legislation. The Republicans have been saying, "But it is increasing costs, not reducing them."
The Republicans WERE warned that without a Public Option to help propagate competition Americans were faced with a difficult battle to attain reasonable health care costs.
Meet Christina A. Varney. And what has found? She has found EXACTLY what the President warned about. Monopolies that seek to destroy competition and trap Americans into high health costs.
I don't want to hear another word from Republicans. They are NOT good legislators and all they do is cater to Wall Street. Joe Lieberman needs to be investigated for corruption in the way he obstructed the Public Option to benefit cronies. Republicans are as corrupt as the day is long.
...Blue Cross and Blue Shield,(click title to entry - thank you) like most insurers, contracts with hospitals, doctors, labs and other providers for services. The lawsuit took direct aim at contract clauses stipulating that no insurance companies could obtain better rates from the providers than Blue Cross. Some of these contract provisions, known as “most favored nation” clauses, require hospitals to charge other insurers a specified percentage more than they charge Blue Cross — in some cases, 30 to 40 percent more, the lawsuit said.
Christine A. Varney, the assistant attorney general in charge of the antitrust division of the Justice Department, said these requirements were “pernicious.”
“Our lawsuit alleges that the intent and effect of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s contracts is to raise hospital costs for competing health plans and reduce competition for the sale of health insurance,” Ms. Varney said. “As a result, consumers in Michigan are paying more for their health care services and health insurance...."
