On Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:27:47 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:


"Secular Humouresque" wrote in message
om...
On 10/18/10 3:24 PM, nom=de=plume wrote:

"Secular Humouresque" wrote in message
m...
Justice Dept. Sues Michigan Blue Cross Over Pricing Deals
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department alleged Monday in a lawsuit
that Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield is discouraging competition by
engaging in practices that raise hospital prices, conduct an assistant
attorney general vowed to challenge anywhere else it is found in the
United States.

The suit targets “most favored nation” clauses between Michigan Blue
Cross Blue Shield and health care providers that, according to the
government, essentially guarantee that no competing health care plan
can obtain a better rate.

Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield has most-favored-nation clauses or
similar language in contracts with at least 70 of 131 general acute
care hospitals in the state, the government alleges.

The lawsuit said that Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield intended to
raise hospital costs for competing health care plans and reduce
competition for the sale of health insurance.

“As a result, consumers in Michigan are paying more for their health
care services and health insurance,” Assistant Attorney General
Christine Varney, who runs the Justice Department’s antitrust
division, told reporters.

In some instances, the lawsuit states, Blue Cross has raised the
prices it pays for hospital services in exchange for obtaining
most-favored-nation clauses that raise the minimum prices hospitals
can charge to Blue Cross competitors.

The state of Michigan joined the Justice Department in the case filed
in federal court in Detroit.
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Guns Don't Kill People -- Fundamentalist Religion Kills People!

Obviously, it's Obama/Pelosi/Reid's fault. I wonder if the right wing
wackos will be blaming Boehner when he becomes Speaker.



We really have to figure out a way to get these private companies out of
the health care business. They serve no purpose consumers need.

--
Guns Don't Kill People -- Fundamentalist Religion Kills People!

It's going to be tough to do for a number of reasons... for sure the
Citizen's United ruling didn't help, perhaps the only avenue would be a
Constitutional amendment, but that's a tough road. There are few with spines
in DC, and a few Democrats who should know better. And, it would really be
nice if some Republicans stopped acting like horses' rear ends and started
acting like what they're supposed to be... the loyal opposition.

They're neither loyal or a worthy opposition. God forbid the congress
passes legislation that'd help small business. The Republicans won't
be able to sell the same legislation to their campaign funders if the
Democrats in congress get there first.

Broken system. Campaign finance reform is the first thing that needs
to happen.