Insinuation

As reported here in the Wall St. Journal, health insurers are doing whatever they can to lower their costs. As you may know, the WSJ is a business newspaper first and foremost so the perspective or angle of this piece comes from the business side. Trust me, they may be talking a big game about making health care more affordable but don't let the double speak fool you. They are NOT talking about lowering premiums but instead are finding a way to keep their profits up in the setting of the new healthcare reform bill. When you read this article, check out how they are co-opting the newest and most ridiculous fads of accountable care organizations, quality performance payment plans and patient centered medical homes. Here is the best line I have ever heard. Aetna's chief medical officer, Dr. Lonny Reisman, said, "We're insinuating ourselves more and more in the actual care of the patient."

Oh, my god!!!! They think they are the doctors now!!!! As Charlton Heston's character (George Taylor) said in Planet of the Apes:

It's a mad house! A mad house!