This is a must read for Health reform advocates
Last Temptation
An interview with Wendell Potter
The former mouthpiece for insurance giant Cigna divulges his role in misleading the public, the emotional day that led to his whistle-blowing, and what should really scare you.
In June 2007, Wendell Potter was head of corporate communications at Cigna, one of the largest health insurance companies in America, when he attended the U.S. premier of Michael Moore's Sicko. Potter was part of the team charged with discrediting Moore's film, which advance word said was highly critical of the health insurance industry. Potter "sat quietly in the back and took notes," but soon realized he had a problem. "When I saw the movie, I'll be honest: I thought it was a real good documentary. I knew from my own studies of other healthcare systems that it was an accurate portrayal of those systems and how they are able to provide universal coverage." Yet he was being paid by Cigna to tell people the opposite, that the film was full of lies.
Just a few weeks later, Potter, who is from Tennessee, read in a local paper about a free healthcare expedition being held in Wise County, Virginia. He decided to check it out. Walking through the fairground gates, Potter saw hundreds of people waiting in the rain while physicians attended to patients in animal stalls or on gurneys lying on the rain-soaked pavement. Tents had been pitched across the fairground lawns, creating a scene "like something that could've been happening on a battlefield or in a war-torn country." Tears mixed with the rain to cloud Potter's vision. "What I thought was: 'Is this the United States?' It was so remote from my reality. It just seemed impossible."Here's a link to the rest
http://www.guernicamag.com/spotlight/1207/the_last_temptation_of_wendell/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_content=357400770&utm_campaign=Guernica%20Magazine:%20August:%20Health%20Insurance%20Blues,%20White%20Canvas%20House%20_%20ktduut&utm_term=The%20__%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Last%20Temptation%20of%20Wendell%20PotterH
They just had another one. It was heartbreaking to hear the dentists talk about having to pull all the teeth from people in their 20's because they were rotted out and even the good teeth had to go so they could just get a full set of dentures.
People who had breast masses, and others who had pain; and they all waited patiently for their "number." I heard about someone who had been waiting over night who got a number for an eye exam, and she gave it to an old guy who she thought needed it more than she did. She needed a GYN exam but those numbers were gone.
Two days of free care, and people lined up patiently, hoping to get help. No signs of protest; no pushing or shoving; no threats; everyone was there for the same reason, and they just wanted help.
This was going on while republicans, democrats, and their lobbyist benefactors were working to demonize universal health care. So did they win? If so, those in Wise County Virginia and nearby are clearly once again, the losers.
August 17, 2009 8:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let our esteemed congressmen and women stand there for two days and hand out the numbers.
August 17, 2009 10:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree; without a public option, the medical monopoly will continue to inflate medical costs for more and more Americans. In other words, stop fretting, a public option is inevitable.
ex animo
davidfarrar
August 18, 2009 12:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Clicking on the link is absolutely worth it. Wendell Potter offers a clear understanding of the issues at hand, as one who has been there. Highly rec'd.
August 18, 2009 1:42 AM | Reply | Permalink