Wendell Potter & Marcia Angell return to Bill Moyers Journal

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[Lani]

Another great Bill Moyers Journal tonight.  Wendall Potter returned to discuss the possible healthcare legislation.  He sees the rigging of the system by the insurance companies, but also some urgently needed regulations.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/03052010/watch.html

WENDELL POTTER: ... I think that first of all, if you can end the practice of their using preexisting conditions to deny coverage. That's a big, big thing...because that is one of the ways that they cut people out of being covered. If they're forced to take all comers, even people who really need insurance, which is what we're really hoping to accomplish with this legislation, that means that they'll have to spend money covering the care that they need. And that's another reason why you have this mandate of trying to make sure that everyone does get in the system, because you have to have everyone in the system before that works.

BILL MOYERS: But at the same time, they're getting, as you say, this mandate which delivers them millions of new customers. So in effect, is it a wash? I mean, they have to spend more money if this legislation passes, but they get more income from the mandated coverage.

WENDELL POTTER: They do. They do that. But I think we need to look at this as a win for consumers as well. Yes, it'll be a win for the insurance companies, but I don't think we're going to wind up with the insurance companies walking away, winning the whole ball game. If we don't do anything right now, that's what they'll-- that's what will happen. They'll win everything.

Next up was physician and single payer advocate Marcia Angell.  http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/03052010/watch3.html
She had this to say about Pres. Obama and his proposed reform:

MARCIA ANGELL: Fighting for the wrong things and too little, too late. He gave away the store at the very beginning by compromising. Not just compromising, but caving in to the commercial insurance industry and the pharmaceutical industry. And then he stood back for months while the thing just fell apart. Now he's fighting, but he's fighting for something that shouldn't pass. Won't pass and shouldn't pass.

What this bill does is not only permit the commercial insurance industry to remain in place, but it actually expands and cements their position as the lynchpin of health care reform. And these companies they profit by denying health care, not providing health care. And they will be able to charge whatever they like. So if they're regulated in some way and it cuts into their profits, all they have to do is just raise their premiums. And they'll do that.

Not only does it keep them in place, but it pours about 500 billion dollars of public money into these companies over 10 years. And it mandates that people buy these companies' products for whatever they charge. Now that's a recipe for the growth in health care costs, not only to continue, but to skyrocket, to grow even faster.

[futurexpat?]

Since we were away, I missed this. But I will soon catch up. I try never to miss his show and will miss him terribly when his show is over in April. 

[Lani]

I try never to miss his show and will miss him terribly when his show is over in April. 

Oh great.  Thanks for reminding me.  Now I'm depressed again.    I'm going to put his Joseph Campbell series in the DVD player and try to forget what you wrote.  Or eat chocolate.

[futurexpat?]

Eat chocolate. That always works! (A margarita's not bad either, though). 

[Sister Artemis]

Chocolate Margarita?  Nahhhh

However, I had a chocolate martini the other day (called a "Zebratini" at the zebra-themed Bridgewater Restaurant in Florence, Oregon).  It was amazing.  Almost enough to counteract the sorrow over Bill Moyer's retirement from his show... almost....

[futurexpat?]

Also love chocolate martinis!  (although I've had some that were fabulous and others not so much)

[Lani]

Yum!  I love chocolate martinis.  Although I have only ever had one.   Thank goodness I don't have the recipe - that would be dangerous, especially with Bill's retirement approaching!

[Sister Artemis]

The zebratini had dark chocolate drizzled zebra-stripe-like on the inside of the glass.  It was nummy.  I'd like it even without the inebriation. Mmmmm....  I could have had several....