I read that BCBSA assessment yesterday and found it laughable. Boo Hoo for them.
And that 80%+ of the audience who will have their perceptions affected is about the same number of people who don't believe in the "wonderful economy" the teevee keeps telling us we have. You know the people who aren't (brain) dead. Karma's biting them, methinks. I'm proud Michael Moore is from MI.
Posted by Sharon at July 7, 2007 06:13 AMI kinda liked the disemvoweling thing.
Posted by suds at July 7, 2007 06:41 AMFriends,
An employee who works at Capital BlueCross has sent us a confidential memo written and circulated by its Vice President of Corporate Communications, Barclay Fitzpatrick. His job, it seems, was to go and watch "Sicko," observe the audience's reaction, and then suggest a plan of action for how to deal with the movie.
The memo, which I am releasing publicly in this email, is a fascinating look at how one health care company views "Sicko" -- and what it fears its larger impact will be on the public. The industry's only hope, the memo seems to indicate, is if the movie "flops."
Mr. Fitzpatrick writes: "In typical Moore fashion, Government and business leaders are behind a conspiracy to keep the little guy down and dominated while getting rich."
No. You don't say! That can't be!
(email from Michael Moore)
Posted by Judith at July 7, 2007 06:56 AM"If popular, the movie will have a negative impact on our image in this community."
"I believe the most successful strategy will not be in attacking the movie for its weaknesses or misperceptions, but in distancing ourselves and our brand from the groups and motivations he attacks, demonstrating the good that we do and achieve (aligns with BCBSA strategy), and in articulating our disappointment that he did not address the truly relevant issue of improving our health and wellness. We will convene a team to consider other approaches and work on potential messages for media inquiries, customer service, and employees. "
Fitzpatrick obviously missed the point of the movie, which was to show that even with Health Insurance, you get screwed.
Barclay Fitzpatrick
Vice President
Corporate Communications
Capital BlueCross
(w) 717-541-7752
(c) 717-329-3648
barclay.fitzpatrick@capbluecross.com
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
Talking Points in Response to Michael Moore's "Sicko"
June 2007
1) The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and the 39 Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are committed to improving the U.S. healthcare system for our nearly 100 million members through continuous innovation that reflects the ever-changing healthcare landscape and the needs of the consumer.
2) The Blues recognize the need for improvement of both the coverage and delivery of healthcare. But the divisive tone set forth by Michael Moore and his movie "Sicko" is not helpful. Positive change to our healthcare system can be best achieved through shared responsibility, not recrimination. To ensure Americans have access to the best healthcare that is both timely, efficient, and of high quality, requires the collective contribution of all stakeholders -- consumers, providers, employers and the government.
3) The Blues participation in the Health Coverage Coalition for the Uninsured is a primary example of how the broader healthcare community is working together to reduce the number of uninsured in the United States.
4) The Blues are working on myriad initiatives that ensure Americans have access to quality and affordable healthcare. Each day, Blue Plans across the country are bringing healthcare value to their members in a number of ways such as new advances in health information technology and greater access to cost and quality information. In addition:
o The Blues recently created Blue Health Intelligence a data resource that will shine light on emerging medical trends and treatment options in an unprecedented way. To further the use of evidenced-based medicine, BCBSA has called upon Congress to establish an independent, payer-funded institute that will study the comparative effectiveness of new and existing medical treatments and procedures.
o Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are at the forefront of healthcare transparency by providing their members with online access to real-time information related to provider quality and the cost of common healthcare services. In addition, the Blues have committed to making personal health records available to their members by 2008.
o We are working to ensure that Medicare is funded appropriately and that seniors continue to have access to comprehensive benefits.
5) The Blues are proud of these efforts and we will continue to work with consumers, providers, employers and the government to provide Americans with the healthcare services and information they need to lead full, healthy lives.
yada yada yada
My local BCBS, Wellmark, hasn't been a non-profit for over a decade, and it fuckin' shows.
If BCBSA is concerned about their reputation after SiCKO, they should boot the fucking for-profit franchisees that hide behind the non-profit reputation whom are either equal to the rest of the for-profit health insurance scum, or only marginally better.
Posted by idiosynchronic at July 7, 2007 07:22 AMas long as we put them out of business, nothing else matters. this is the worst form of human there is. that one which would use others to profit by, without providing them the same benefits.
Posted by oldtree at July 7, 2007 07:34 AMAnthem/Wellpoint took private the BCBS's that Wellmark didn't.
How many non-profit health insurers are left?
Posted by Davis X. Machina at July 7, 2007 07:38 AMThe Blues don't have to worry because there will be no change in the way business is done regarding your health insurance. Their lobbyists will spend a minor amount of cash and get a major impact through the big players in Congress.
Hillary has been bedding healthcare lobbyists for years and takes a progressive stance only to get your vote if you are an issues voter, but she will never support the general welfare of Americans through initiatives that lead to universal healthcare by non-profits. Follow the money and you'll understand why you will never have non-profit universal healthcare.
The republi-cons with good health insurance coverage will tell you for profit is the capitalist way. Yet even our Constitution tells us the government exists to provide for the citizens of the United States:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Of course, you have to wipe the shit off of it from the administration and Congress wiping their asses with this beautiful document, but the words are still legible.
H.R. 676 is a beautiful piece of legislation. Simple, effective, compassionate. Government at its best, but no one to lobby for it. No cash to be made and that is why this legislation must die. Besides, Pelosi washed her hands of it.
Princess Sparkle Pelosi -holy fucking god! The first female speaker and we get this shit.
Posted by phidipides at July 7, 2007 08:55 AMThere should be no 'Health Insurance Industry.'
It should be against the law.
They should be expropriated.
Anything less is piss in the wind.
Should their be a fascist Supreme Court which would validate their legal continuance?
No. There should be no fascist Supreme Court appointed by fascists.
Proceed from there.
Posted by Jill Bains at July 7, 2007 12:11 PM"Princess Sparkle Pelosi -holy fucking god! The first female speaker and we get this shit."
-( phidipides)
Why is this such a surprise?
She is a socialite and probably close to a billionaire. No hope should have been invested in her even before her ascent to power. That there was hope is something which is unforgiveable. Hope in Nancy Pelosi reflects a total failure to understand America. That people of intelligence continue to succumb to the Nancy Pelosi's of the world reveals a huge cognitive dissonance.
It is better to not make those mistakes in advance of finding out they are mistakes.
No socialites.
No billionaires.
No millionaires for that matter.
Posted by Jill Bains at July 7, 2007 12:23 PMWell, there goes Paris Hilton as the next Speaker...
Posted by tempus at July 7, 2007 01:20 PM"Well, there goes Paris Hilton as the next Speaker..."
Tempus, I hear she wants Ghouliana to run her as Vice-President on his ticket. After all, she is a changed person after, what, two weeks in jail. We have just got to elect more rich people into Government positions.
Posted by Judith at July 7, 2007 04:47 PMAnd I am sure that if Mr. Moore needs health care he will eschew Mount Sinai Medical and jet off to Cuba.
Right?
Posted by And Bagley Was A Friend Of Mine at July 7, 2007 05:36 PMCorporations. Powerless vs. Mr. Moore and the entrenched liberal intelligentsia.
When you go to work in the morning, remember that your job and the accompanying benefits are a privilege and not a right. Thank your employer gratiously for their generosity in providing any health benefit they may offer. Should a large number of Americans become enamored with Mr. Moore's message and lose their perspective, allowing themselves to become ruled by their cynicism and jealousy, they may wake one day to find their current benefactors unforgiving of such arrogance and petulance.
All one need do is look across the globe to the developing world and witness the enthusiasm of would-be Corporate-American employees, jumping at the prospect to obtain the privilege of work, uninterested in the bourgeoise notions of "working conditions" or "healthcare benefits".
As Mr. Moore says, "Who are we?" Exactly. Who are we to question the actions and judgment of our employers, the benefit packages they choose to offer, and the insurers they choose to contract? The right to craft and question those realities are solely the domain of management, directors, and shareholders, after all.
Posted by Tampa Student at July 7, 2007 11:23 PMAnd I am sure that if Mr. Moore needs health care he will eschew Mount Sinai Medical and jet off to Cuba.
Right?
Is this a serious question? Millionaires, including Michael Moore, always have the option of superior care.
A better question would be, which would YOU, (likely non-millionaire) AndBag, be better off with?
Posted by bartcopfan at July 9, 2007 12:49 PM