Ted Kennedy on HMOs: Then and Now

IHF ^ | June 22, 2001 | Ted Kennedy

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Just five years after the HMO Act of 1973 was signed into law, the U.S. Senate Committee on Human Resources, Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research, held a hearing to discuss amending the Act. Following are excerpts from Senator Ted Kennedy's opening statement at the March 3, 1978 hearing:

"Today the Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research holds hearings on proposed amendments to federal statutes supporting the development of health maintenance organizations...These amendments would extend and strengthen current authorities supporting HMOs in this country....

"As the author of the first HMO bill ever to pass the Senate, I find this spreading support for HMOs truly gratifying. Just a few years ago, proponents of health maintenance organizations faced bitter opposition from organized medicine. And just a few years ago, congressional advocates of HMOs faced an administration which was long on HMO rhetoric, but very short on action.

"The current revival of the HMO movement should come as no surprise. HMOs have proven themselves again and again to be effective and efficient mechanisms for delivering health care of the highest quality. HMOs cut hospital utilization by an average of 20 to 25 percent compared to the fee-for-service sector. They cut the total cost of health care by anywhere from 10 to 30 percent. And they accomplish these savings without compromising the quality of care they provide their members.

"In fact, many medical experts argue that the peer review built into group practice in the HMO setting promotes a quality of care superior to that found in the traditional health care system.... "In our enthusiasm to see HMOs proliferate throughout this country we should not lose sight of the need to guarantee the quality and integrity of the prepaid plans we create."

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

I only cut/paste his words from then. We all know what he says now.

[Vaduz]

I would use a doctor that excepts the HMO program most of them are from third world countries.

[slideguy]

The Kennedy's and especially Ted Kennedy have been screwing the public over since their entrance into American Politics, Ted in particular is the dumbest and the most troublesome of the entire family. His authorship for example i.e. of the HMO Act 1973, and his support and pushing for it's passage destroyed the American Health care system, and has brought us to the impasse we find ourselves today in this regard. Since that time a number of politicians like Ted have gotten involved, which further complicated the system and have now brought us to a position where the country cannot afford, or should I say we as taxpayers cannot afford to finance any sort of health care system on a national scale as the Democrats today would have you believe regarding National Health care Plan. This so-called plan is thought by the public for the most part to be free, well friends it's not free, and can or could never be free.
Even without the 57% tax revenue loss this year,. and raising taxes the amount it would take to fund such a system would paralyze this country entirely. Those of you who think you want this are operating under a misconception , and lies from the Democrats. It must be realized that NO politicians does anything for you, just because, they are pushing it into law because they get paid to do so and handsomely I might add. i.e. Clinton for example when he entered office had a net worth (both of them) 600,000.00 after 8 years in office at a salary of 385,000.00 per year he alone left office worth over 660 million, and she was worth another 300 million approximately, none of those annual salaries add up friends.
You need to understand once and for all, “NOTHING IS FREE” IT ALL COMES AT A EXTREME PRICE AND DIRECTLY TO YOU, AND ONLY YOU AS THE DEBTOR. National or Gov’t Run Health care in this country should never be enacted Obama’s directed “Death Panel” for the aged you will not like for your parents, and it will be your parents, the lack of patient care from doctors to your child, you will not like, and from that because the Government deems the care not necessary for your Child, your Child will suffer and Die from the lack of approval for care services. Ted Kennedy and politicians like him need to be thrown out of office altogether, they are the ones that caused the mess we have today. Sure Obama Blames it all on Bush, Bush has nothing to do with this current health-care issue, it is a clear cut attempt by Pelosi, Reid,Emanuel and his Brother behind the scenes who will inevitably run the health care system using the Surgeon General as a dummy front and of course Obama all of whom will get paid generously if this passes.You on the other hand will get further screwed in More ways than you will ever imagine and then on top of that pay for the thing.Stand up for your Constitutional Right of choice, your right of Liberty and freedom of oppression by the government. VOTE EACH AND EVERY DEMOCRAT OUT OF OFFICE AND WEED OUT THE BAD REPUBLICANS FROM OFFICE. BECOME A CONSERVATIVE CONSTITUTIONALIST".referenced http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2306363/posts

[maryz]

I'm embarrassed to admit my total ignorance on this, but while I vaguely remember when HMO's came in, I never knew they were gov't-"inspired".

You sound knowledgeable on the subject -- could you give me a thumbnail sketch of the development of HMO's?

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

These two should help you out.

http://www.cchconline.org/privacy/hmoart.php3

http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=2819

[Steelers6]

This is the problem, we end up choosing between the status quo failure they’ve created or the new worse socialist failure they have in store for us. The Republicans compromise is in the middle of these two failures.

[maryz]

Great links! Thank you! :)