Joe Dunn, the EVP/CEO of the California Medical Association, a well-known trial lawyer and a former member of the California legislature, gave a gripping lecture. I left
thinking that what I had just heard might be the beginning of real changes in health care.
With Mr. Dunn as our leader, we may stand on the front of a wave of novel legal actions that could change the power balance between physicians and insurance entities.
Using examples of the breakup of other oligopolies
(such as the steel industry in the reign of JFK, and the Enron electricity crisis in California in 2000-2001), Mr. Dunn gave us an idea of the tactics the CMA plans to use in the next
few years. And, he is in a position to know well
what will work. He was one of the team of legislators
that deposed Enron, which began the collapse of the electric oligopoly.
It was so refreshing to hear an approach that was grounded in real law, substantive research and planning, instead of the continual battle we fight over tiny issues with individual
insurance plans. Insurance plans would love to continue to fight us about these issues, because we cannot affect real change one issue at a time. Meanwhile, they continue to practice
business as usual, scooping out 30% of the health care dollars.
However, if Mr. Dunn has his way, soon they may be preoccupied with other legal battles. It may take a decade to see a new era of health care, but that battle seems much less
frightening than the prospect of a single payer health care system written by politicians in Washington.
Along with these legal lines of attack, yhere are some bills being proposed that would ease the restrictions on the collaboration of physicians. One such has been proposed by
Tom Campbell, which would allow collaboration equal to the health care market share (Ex: 30% market held by one payer, up to 30% of physicians in that region can collaborate).
If you heard Joe Dunn speak, you will remember that 80% of Californians polled did not know that there is a California State Legislature. With that level of apathy, your input does make a difference!
Julia Mooney, M.D.
Secretary-Treasurer
North Valley Medical Association
BITS...our annual Baby Sitters in Training Seminar, which was held at Mercy Medical Center, was once again well-attended.
143 attendees from over 35 schools and churches attended this free workshop to hear from firefighters, paramedics, a police officer, a teen baby sitter, and our own Mara Copeland, who is a nurse and a new mom. Thank you, Mara!
As part of the NVMAA mission to
promote community health and safety, this
unique program connects NVMAA members
with the broader community in order to address
safety issues, accident prevention, basic
first aid and useful tips & advice for young
baby sitters.
Through programs such as this, critical issues are addressed and both Alliance members and community participants are educated through their participation. In fact, I’m happy to report that our speakers offered to come back again.
BITS was funded in part by a grant from
the American Medical Association Alliance,
the largest volunteer arm of the American
Medical Association. The AMA Alliance has
more than 26,000 grass-roots members working
in their communities to ensure child safety,
prevent abuse and violence, promote healthy
lifestyles and increase awareness of available
health care resources.
Visit the AMAA website at amaalliance.org to learn more. AND a big THANK YOU to the following people who helped with registration, setup and room monitoring: Theresa, Mike & Rebecca Gasman; Maurene, Mariele & Garrett
Lensink; Connie & Rebecca Echols; Dominique
Powell; Bridgette Wells and Kim Trumbull
of Mercy.
Amy Moon, BITS Coordinator