THREAD - Why does surgeon, editor in chief @medpagetoday Dr Marty Makary @MartyMakary want a “surprise billing” fix HORRIBLE for patients that boosts insurer profits??

He wants benchmarking which will be death blow for independent practice in

: #MedTwitter

1/x

Looks like a nice pro patient article at first glance

“Now is the Time to Address Surprise Billing”

Not sure why he would tag billionaire John Arnold in this tweet too. Maybe Dr Makary would care to explain...

Let’s dig a little deeper shall we?

2/x

Agree with lots that Dr Makary says in this article

Doctors all recognize that “surprise bills” need to end, patients must be held harmless

Exploitation by PE needs to be ended

3/x

But there have been 2 different solutions proposed

Benchmarking that insurers want badly to boost profits

VS

Independent dispute resolution supported by patients, docs, @TheRevAl, labor, fiscal conservatives

Basically EVERYONE has realized benchmarking is terrible for society

Sooooo

I would obviously assume Dr Makarty would side with patients, physicians, labor, @TheRevAl, fiscal conservatives, all of society and be against boosting insurer profits MORE

I mean they’re only posting TENS of BILLIONS in yearly profits

4/x

So yes, my jaw dropped & my heart sank when I saw that Dr Makary was supporting BENCHMARKING!

Are you kidding me?

Had to dig to figure this out

In article, he slips in a link asking doctors to sign this petition against “surprise bills”

Sure, I’ll sign it! Who wouldn’t?

5/

Links to a Google Form

“I’m asking for your voice to urge policy makers to finally take action on surprise medical bills...”

Nice!

Wait, what’s grainy low pixel letter I’m signing? Senate HELP, House E&C bills?!

Those are insurer sponsored benchmark bills! Shady AF

6/x

Are you kidding me? Just at least be up front about what you’re asking docs and #MedTwitter to sign!

This letter is anti patient, anti physician & Dr Makary is misleading his readers

I am calling on @medpagetoday @EverydayHealth @JohnGeverMPT to remove that link STAT

7/x

And in case @MartyMakary & any other policy wonks getting grants from anti physician & anti patient billionaires want to get educated, here are a few threads about why entire country deserves a surprise bill fix that puts patients first like NY did

#ParientsOverProfits

8/x

The TRUE etiology of “surprise bills”

Hint: it’s not the doctors

They are more accurately called “UNPAID insurer bills”

9/x https://twitter.com/drdanchoi/status/1186642499122745349

Here’s a group of doctors from all backgrounds and specialties: academic, employed, independent practice who are advocating for exactly OPPOSITE of what @MartyMakary wants

Say NO to benchmarking!

10/x

This debate has been raging for over a year now in Congress for good reason

It will be a fundamental shift in our HC delivery system & kill independent practice in and hurt patients

STOP trying to slip it in w/ other bills!

NOT how democracy is supposed to work

11/x https://twitter.com/drdanchoi/status/1194383483503857668

And finally former health insurance exec @wendellpotter spills the beans on true intentions behind benchmarking for “surprise bills” fix: BIG PROFITS over patient care

@MartyMakary Please explain why you support benchmarking - only profit hungry insurers are with you

/end https://twitter.com/wendellpotter/status/1214590242667278336

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