Sacramento Sleuthing

Friends in Blogland,

I apologize for  tardy posts. The trail has taken me again to the halls of legislature to learn and participate in healthcare debates which influence families, babies, and of course, nurses. I am completing a residency with the nurse advocates who work with the American Nurses’ Association in Sacramento, CA.

Sacramento Capitol

It was sloppy-wet day, but always a thrill to walk the hallowed halls of the capitol. I will finish the week here and return often until my work is completed, at the end of April.

At the Assembly Health Committee forum, I watched the fascinating grilling of Big Business (insurance companies in the arena today) for over two hours. This is Theatre of the Real, people! I believe you would be proud of most of your elected representatives who spoke,some eloquently, some pointedly and some in a genteel manner. Others were not so nice. (Recall visions of “Inherit The Wind.”)

Those who represented (one of the largest of the large) insurance companies gave cogent summations of their responsibilities and offered “the softer side” of what many consumers consider  cut-throat profiteering practices. Try as they might to cast aside aspersions with melodious, well-chosen arguments, the gallery was wriggling in their seats. One legislator summed it up by saying that it’s not business, per se, which is the concern here, it is the monopoly-factor which with health insurance corporations stifle real competition in the marketplace, and cry “ouch” as they calmly explain why they need to raise costs up to 36% in a month from now?!

A few citizens put a face to the dilemma during the public forum. One, a retired MD, sees from both sides now. He characterizes the irony: insurance companies regularly  lower physician reimbursements, while complaining to customers that because of demanding healthcare practitioners, it is necessary to raise rates…all the while fat-cat execs take (“earn” would be a misnomer) as much as $24 million a year!

Stay tuned for more … the debate surrounding premature babies and healthcare benefits has only just begun.

Candy