Karen Ignagni, the health industry's chief lobbyist, said Tuesday that insurers were being singled out and vilified for their role in health care reform when they are the ones trying to reform the system, The New York Times reports.
After House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week called health insurers "villains," Ignagni spent Tuesday hitting back on that message. "'Attacking our community will not help get anyone covered,' she said. While taking a conciliatory tack and insisting that insurers remain committed to reform, she says they will aggressively counter the criticism. 'What we have to do is make sure we correct the record,' she said. As the debate heats up, Ms. Ignagni is facing her toughest test. After winning concessions, and consensus, from many insurance companies with competing interests, she now has to keep them together as the assault on the industry picks up" (Abelson, 8/4).
Kaiser Health News: "Ignagni... said anyone trying to find a 'villain' among insurers was hurting both the process and 'ordinary' Americans working in the industry. 'They don't deserve to be demonized or vilified as part of a campaign to distract attention away from the sinking support for a government-run program,' she said. Ignagni also called claims about the extravagance of health care profits 'erroneous'" (Villegas, 8/4).
Congress Daily: "Insurers' support could hinge on whether the bill requires individuals to purchase health insurance, a provision included in all three versions of the House bills and in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee proposal. The Senate Finance Committee is negotiating but is likely to include that provision. Ignagni said the regulatory reforms that AHIP backs will only work if health reform includes an individual mandate. 'The record is replete with failures of not coupling the two together,' she said" (Hunt, 8/4).
Roll Call: "AHIP has said its proposal would guarantee coverage for all Americans, regardless of pre-existing conditions. But the industry says its plan will only work if all individuals are legally mandated to have coverage. A government-run plan, she said, would offer artificially low premiums. 'This would force employers to drop their coverage, creating a death spiral for private insurance and financial catastrophe for many hospitals and doctors,' she said (Ackley and Palmer, 8/5).
The Washington Times: Ignagni "said the growing anti-insurance rhetoric is a reflection of Americans' doubts about the public option, the government health insurance program proposed by Democrats."