Ted Kennedy and Health Care

Today the hot topic seems to be health care. I've already weighed in on a plan that'll work and cover everyone but Congress has yet to call and ask for my input. I do want to remind everyone that this isn't the first time government has decided to meddle in health care coverage. Let me tickle your memories (For those of you who are old enough), and tell you a little story.

Back in 1978 I was blessed with the birth of my daughter. She had her share of medical problems but after three months in the hospital my wife and I we permitted to take her home. I went to the bill payment window and the charge was nada, zilch, zippo, gratis. My insurance covered the whole medical event. I received no additional billing from doctors, specialists, radiology, or any other services provided to my daughter after our return home. I have to say the comfort of knowing that type of medical challenge was completely covered by my insurance plan was welcome, and the definition of being insured. Little did I know this comfort was being assaulted by Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy and his need to meddle in the free market society.

Ted Kennedy introduced and passed legislation that remolded the face of insurance as we knew it. Enter the HMO! Now hospital visits have deductibles and co-pays. Your billed after the fact for services you never knew were performed, and the burden of payment of medical bills are shared by the premium payer (you). He pandered to the insurance companies lobby and today's insurance calamity are the direct result. Here is a little of the hypocrisy.......


Just five years after the HMO Act of 1973 was signed into law, the U.S. Senate Committee on Human Resources, Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research, held a hearing to discuss amending the Act. Following are excerpts from Senator Ted Kennedy's opening statement at the March 3, 1978 hearing:

"Today the Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research holds hearings on proposed amendments to federal statutes supporting the development of health maintenance organizations...These amendments would extend and strengthen current authorities supporting HMOs in this country....

"As the author of the first HMO bill ever to pass the Senate, I find this spreading support for HMOs truly gratifying. Just a few years ago, proponents of health maintenance organizations faced bitter opposition from organized medicine. And just a few years ago, congressional advocates of HMOs faced an administration which was long on HMO rhetoric, but very short on action.

"The current revival of the HMO movement should come as no surprise. HMOs have proven themselves again and again to be effective and efficient mechanisms for delivering health care of the highest quality. HMOs cut hospital utilization by an average of 20 to 25 percent compared to the fee-for-service sector. They cut the total cost of health care by anywhere from 10 to 30 percent. And they accomplish these savings without compromising the quality of care they provide their members.

"In fact, many medical experts argue that the peer review built into group practice in the HMO setting promotes a quality of care superior to that found in the traditional health care system.... "In our enthusiasm to see HMOs proliferate throughout this country we should not lose sight of the need to guarantee the quality and integrity of the prepaid plans we create."1

. . . and Now
On May 15, 2001, Senator Ted Kennedy released a statement regarding the need for an effective patients' bill of rights to end HMO abuse. Following are excerpts from that press release:

"Today, if your child has a rare congenital heart defect and no specialist in the plan is equipped to treat it, your [HMO] plan can condemn your child to second rate care from the doctor who happens to be on the plan's list....

"Today, if you have incurable cancer and your best hope of a cure is participation in a clinical trial, your [HMO] plan can deny you access to that trial....

"Today, your doctor can be financially coerced by your HMO into giving you less than optimal care....

"Today, if you need an expensive drug that is not on your plan's list, the [HMO] plan can make you pay for it yourself or go without....

"The list goes on and on....

"It is time to end the abuses of managed care that victimize thousands of patients each day. It is time for doctors and nurses and patients to make medical decisions again, not insurance company accountants. The American people deserve prompt action, and we intend to see that they get it."2


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Isn't life funny? That same man is once again going to meddle in our insurance. He has co-written and sponsored yet another bill meddling in free market principles guiding our health care. Can you imagine the outcome this time? They wonder why seniors are angry, this is deja vu to them.

Here's another fun fact. Ticking off seniors is possibly the worse age group for this simple reason. They all grew up in the 1960's. That decade was the era when protesting was invented and perfected. They had love ins, sit ins, civil rights marches, and peace rallies. Grandma and grandpa were pretty radical back in the day, they are messing with the wrong generation. It doesn't surprise me a lick to see a huge presence at town hall meetings speaking their minds and not taking any rhetoric.



God Bless
Capt. Bill

PS Thanks to those who caught I mistakenly put RFK where I meant JFK, in yesterday's post!

U.S. Senate, Committee on Human Resources, Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research, "Health Maintenance Organization Act Amendments of 1978," March 3, 1978 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1978), pp. 1-3.

2Statement of Senator Edward M. Kennedy Regarding the Patients' Bill of Rights, May 15, 2001.