Hospital-funded organizations lead mega-merger opposition group

The Campaign for Consumer Choice vehemently opposes the health insurance industry's mega-mergers. But its funding comes from an unlikely source: the hospital industry, according to STAT.

On its website, the Campaign for Consumer Choice — which lobbies in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and Virginia — claims the "mergers would mean that three insurance companies would cover 33 percent of the United States," according to the report. It also adds that "[o]ne-third of Americans will be forced to play be new rules for their healthcare" that could be created "without their knowledge and at the sake of their care."

The Campaign for Consumer Choice has been conducting polls, informing Americans that mega-mergers would likely "decrease competition, increase health insurance premiums and stifle innovation," according to the report. The results unveiled that the majority of individuals in Florida, Ohio and Virginia were very concerned about the mega-mergers after being told this information.

Despite these beliefs, STAT found the group was formed and is currently funded by the Greater New York Hospital Association and SEIU 1199 United Healthcare Workers East, which represents healthcare employees. Various state medical societies have also helped the campaign.

The campaign serves as a perfect example of "astroturf," or organizations masquerading as civic-minded groups that are, in reality, funded by secret sponsors.

Such background information on the campaign has caused many to seek further less ambiguity. "The public deserves an honest debate about these and other issues. The groups influencing important policy decisions should be transparent and accountable to the public they're claiming to work on behalf of," said Jenn Topper, communications director of the Sunlight Foundation, according to the report.

Others — such as David Balto, who's organizing the effort on behalf of the healthcare organizations — disagree. "Who does what isn't an important story," he mentioned, according to the report. "What's important is these mergers are tremendously anticompetitive."

 

This story was updated to clarify that the American Medical Association does not have an affiliation with the Campaign for Consumer Choice.

 

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