So, after Scot Lehigh’s paean to business-y insiders who cut the health care deal, and Steve Bailey’s three cheers to “Salesman” Jack Connors of Partners Healthcare, now we get front-page, above-the-fold treatment of the guys who are really moving this compromise: insurers. Isn’t that heartwarming? The rich folks, the CEOs, are cutting deals with politicians. Yes, they’re non-profit organizations, but that doesn’t mean they don’t act in their self-interest:
… Their focus in this case was on complex legislation to benefit their industry — not on charting broader overall growth and employment strategies.
Because the healthcare industry depends on federal and state tax dollars through Medicaid and free care pools, its executives take a keen interest in public policy decisions: Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake.
There was a level of self-interest here that is unusual in Massachusetts politics,” Berry said.
In the end, it’s all about getting paid.
I devoutly hope that the Globe will spend at least this much time, energy, and ink talking about the effect of this bill on folks who currently can’t afford to see a doctor, or at least on those who may well be forced to buy crappy, high-cost, nominal “insurance” under the personal mandate. Will that be page 1, above the fold? Will Steve Bailey write about it? Will Scot Lehigh cover it?
Or is it all establishment, all the time?
UPDATE: Bill from Under the Golden Dome writes: “President Haynes from the Mass. AFL-CIO sent me this response to Scott Lehigh’s story on Friday afternoon.”
Charley, Good comments.
President Haynes from the Mass. AFL-CIO sent me this response to Scott Lehigh’s story on Friday afternoon.
Yes, I’d been meaning to link to it — I’ll do it now.