• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Health co-ops may face difficulty in upstart

Health co-ops may face difficulty in upstart

September 8, 2009 By Brian Moon

Health Care cooperatives are among ideas popular with Congressional Republicans as a way of health care reform. Republicans have suggested an initial government investment into developing non-profit co-ops which participating members could be insured with.

Despite examples in Seattle and Madison, a former big insurance public relations executive doesn’t think health care co-ops are feasible to start up in today’s marketplace. Wendell Potter, with the Madison-based Center for Media and Democracy, says both cities are examples of long time existing co-ops. He says now is a time of consolidated, conglomerate insurance companies with a third of Americans enrolled with one of seven major insurers.

Potter worked at both Humana and CIGNA for more than 20 years and also believes insurance companies use third party agencies to inject misleading information about some proposals in Washington. The former PR man says these “front groups” effectively use the media to spread “buzz phrases” to create opposition to health care reform.

AUDIO: Wendell Potter on front groups (MP3 :68)

Republicans have argued the emotional reactions at public gatherings are the result of lawmakers trying to rush through bills that would empower government too much.

Potter now advocates for “responsible health care reform.” He calls it a shame that the lawmakers have not seriously considered a single payer option which he says has shown to be successful in other countries.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, Politics / Govt



Featured Stories

Evers delivers State of the State address

Abortion rights rally highlights Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Bail and benefits questions will be on Wisconsin’s April statewide ballot

Evers issues promised TikTok ban

Johnson, Baldwin both vote ‘yes’ to avert rail strike

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC