Wasted premium dollars.....1.4 million a day on lobbying

allnurses Guide · Jul 6, 2009

That is the money we pay them for our healthcare.

elkpark · Jul 6, 2009

I've seen other reports of this (with the same numbers), also.

Obviously Big Insurance and Big Pharm CEOs don't consider that money "wasted" ... :madface:

All the more evidence that we need to get them, and the entire "for-profit" structure, out of healthcare for good! This is a perfect example of what's wrong with the current system.

RN4MERCY · Jul 7, 2009

:angryfire This is appalling. Especially when you stop to think of it this way: the greedy profit mark-ups on prescription drugs is going towards PhARMA's campaign against meaningful reform. Our medicine cabinets are funding their anti reform war machine. Medicare Part D is another example of dirty money at work...my understanding is that it actually prohibits the government from using it's purchasing power to negotiate lower prices, (bulk rates), on prescription medications. We definitely need campaign finance reform so we can put an end to this legalized form of bribery that results in corporate benefit legislation being passed at the expense of the rest of us.

CRNA2007 · Jul 15, 2009

everyone has lobbyist. What about all the union dues that are sepnt on lobbyists and campaign advertising it runs in the hundreds of millions. What about the pure profit hospitals make by marking up drugs given to patients by serveral hundred percent. Do you have a problem with nursing organizations utilizing lobbyists?

CRNA2007 · Jul 15, 2009

It is your opinion that the health reform is meaningful. The pharmaceutical companies look out for their own interests and stock holders just like most people look out for their self interests. They are no more greedy than hospitals making pure profit with no investment in drug development.

:angryfire This is appalling. Especially when you stop to think of it this way: the greedy profit mark-ups on prescription drugs is going towards PhARMA's campaign against meaningful reform. Our medicine cabinets are funding their anti reform war machine. Medicare Part D is another example of dirty money at work...my understanding is that it actually prohibits the government from using it's purchasing power to negotiate lower prices, (bulk rates), on prescription medications. We definitely need campaign finance reform so we can put an end to this legalized form of bribery that results in corporate benefit legislation being passed at the expense of the rest of us.

elkpark · Jul 15, 2009

everyone has lobbyist. What about all the union dues that are sepnt on lobbyists and campaign advertising it runs in the hundreds of millions. What about the pure profit hospitals make by marking up drugs given to patients by serveral hundred percent. Do you have a problem with nursing organizations utilizing lobbyists?

But people who belong to unions and professional organizations choose to pay dues knowing that some of that money will be used to lobby, and the lobbying is at least ostensibly promoting the members' interests (although I recognize some may quibble about that). The insurance companies use premium money to lobby against the interests of the general public that is paying them the premiums.

CRNA2007 · Jul 15, 2009

they don't lobby against the public interest they lobby at what is best for THEIR interest which is exactly what I expect a company to do especially if I have an interest (401k, investments, etc.) in that company? Does your hospital advertise on TV, Radio, etc??? That increases costs for patients. Do you feel that is wrong? Insurance lobbying also helps to keep premiums lower by fighting government enforced mandates.

But people who belong to unions and professional organizations choose to pay dues knowing that some of that money will be used to lobby, and the lobbying is at least ostensibly promoting the members' interests (although I recognize some may quibble about that). The insurance companies use premium money to lobby against the interests of the general public that is paying them the premiums.

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2009

The leaky middleman.

wowza · Jul 15, 2009

While when you hear 1.4 million dollars per day it sound like a lot, let's keep this in perspective.

1.4 million per day added up over the course of the year does not even account for a tenth of a percent of health care spending. It accounts for 1/4400th of spending. If we used an extra IV line on our patients a day that would account for much more health care spending.

Even if we completely eliminated this, there would be essentially no difference. So while you may see 1.4 million and think that this is a good target to limit spending it is nothing more than inflammatory statistic to get people fired up that would realistically have little to no impact on US health care were it eliminated.

CRNA2007 · Jul 15, 2009

Please try not to confuse liberals with facts and logic it gets you no where.

While when you hear 1.4 million dollars per day it sound like a lot, let's keep this in perspective.
1.4 million per day added up over the course of the year does not even account for a tenth of a percent of health care spending. It accounts for 1/4400th of spending. If we used an extra IV line on our patients a day that would account for much more health care spending.
Even if we completely eliminated this, there would be essentially no difference. So while you may see 1.4 million and think that this is a good target to limit spending it is nothing more than inflammatory statistic to get people fired up that would realistically have little to no impact on US health care were it eliminated.