I actually did vote for SiCKO, before I voted against it...The good folks at the
Center for Justice & Democracy have caught the Insurance Industry Institute flip-flopping in their support for SiCKO.
Recently, we got a tip from J. Robert Hunter, Director of Insurance for the Consumer Federation of America, about a "top-10 list" of "insurance" films that the hip and edgy Insurance Information Institute (III) put up on their website. Hunter told us that the trade mag National Underwriter listed the 10 films, which included lots of old films (Double Indemnity, The Fortune Cookie). It also included a couple of newer ones, The Rainmaker, and the Oscar-nominated Sicko - neither of which looked too kindly on the insurance industry, so kudos to the III - hey, it's Oscar season right?
But then we got another tip from Mr. Hunter that we could hardly believe. Seems like The Rainmaker and Sicko have suddenly "disappeared" from III's top-10 list! Take a look...
Oops! Hey III, if you're going to censor yourself, it's probably not a good idea to get caught!
To read the entire post, CLiCK here...For more info on the civil justice system and the dangers of so-called "tort reform," visit
The Center for Justice & Democracy and the
Pop Tort Blog...
The new practices have already earned the nickname “sicko surgeries” among critics, partly as a swipe towards the incoming American influence with a nod to film-maker Michael Moore’s recent critique of health care in the United States...
Decades after the 'British Invasion' brought the likes of The Beatles and other popular music from the U.K. to the U.S., America is now returning the favor. Unfortunately, rather than our finest musicians, our largest private health care companies are crossing the Atlantic.
An American health giant is to take charge of three doctors’ surgeries, sparking fury from Camden GPs who have warned the controversial contract will hit patient care.
The Brunswick Medical Centre in Bloomsbury, The King’s Cross Road Practice and the Camden Road Surgery, will all fall into the hands of United Health – the largest profit-making healthcare company in the United States – from March.
CliCK here to read more... The results of United Health's invasion of the U.K. will come as no surprise to Americans:
The American firm which has seized control of three doctor practices in Camden’s “sicko surgery” row did not score the highest rating in all areas when its contract bid was assessed, the New Journal has been told.
United Health’s strongest score during a review by the Camden Primary Care Trust was related to issues surrounding value for money rather than developing patient service, insiders have suggested.
There are now fears that financial savings were prioritised ahead of potential service provision during the process.
For more on our closest ally's turn for the worst, CLiCK here... If you find any of this depressing and would rather not be bothered with it, CLiCK here...
Denver
Even the snow and ice didn't keep Colorado citizens from trying to tell their legislators not to support health insurance mandates as a way to reform the broken health care system. American SiCKO Larry Smith is in the crowd waiting to hear from true reform leaders -- those who support publicly funded, privately delivered, single-payer health care for all.
American SiCKO Donna Smith took part in a Denver rally promoting single-payer universal health care and speaking out against the proposed 'mandate' model.
Colorado need not search too hard to see the failures of plans like that recommended by the 208 Commission for Coloradoans. In Massachusetts, a two-tiered system of health care is entrenching itself as the insurance mandates and connectors that were the brainchildren of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney take hold and price average, working-class citizens out of market for buying affordable, quality health coverage.
CLiCK here to read more of Donna's dispatch from the rally...
