Bargaining power with physicians on reimbursement rates, bulk purchasing power for medications, all sorts of things. Being big has its advantages. I'd say that group purchase power on pharmaceuticals will be one big cost saver. It is true that they might be able to reduce reimbursement rates for physicians. On the other hand it should reduce administrative overhead for physician groups by streamlining claims procedures.
I do worry about the "protection money" angle. In fact, I have already talked about that concern in this thread twice. I've seen that same strong arm tactic from private insurance companies that you are talking about and I noted that if I had to chose between a single big private company and a single big government insurer in this case, I'd probably choose the government one because it is easier to lobby and look into the government behaving like a bully. You at least have a representative to complain to, unlike with BCBS or Kaiser. But I agree that it is a concern and have said so. There are lots of concerns that are quite valid and things we are going to need to address. Judah On Mon, May 4, 2009 at 8:55 AM, Scott Stroz <boyz...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Bargaining power with whom? I take that as the 'single payer' would be > better able to negotiate reimbursement rates...which is what private > insurers are dong now. Several doctores I was friends with in New Jersey > said it was like being shaken down by the mob for 'protection moey'. If > they did not agree to the reduced rate, they could not be a 'preferred > provider' for that nsurance compan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Adobe® ColdFusion® 8 software 8 is the most important and dramatic release to date Get the Free Trial http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;207172674;29440083;f Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:296708 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
