And for good reason; he's probably the most qualified, empassioned, prepared, experienced, connected, and educated "freedom fighter" possible out there when it comes to healthcare. Not only that -- and this is occurring to me even as I write these words -- he's likely to become a huge lightning rod. His work, that of exposing the health insurance industry's massive greed and deception, has the potential, perhaps for the first time, to truly educate Americans on the tendency toward long-term conflict of interest present not only in healthcare, but across the board in American industry and politics.
So just WHO is Wendell Potter?
He's the author, media analyst, and watchdog who wrote DEADLY SPIN: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans. It was released just over two months ago, on November 9.
And by the way, Anne Landman, Managing Editor of the Center for Media and Democracy (for which Wendell Potter is the CMD's Senior Fellow), wrote back in September: "...Wendell has been called the health insurance industry's "worst nightmare," so naturally we are proud to have him here at CMD. Pre-publication copies of the book have been sent out to health writers. The book won't be available to the general public until November 9, but copies can be pre-ordered at a discount at Amazon.com. If the pre-publication reviews are any indication, it could be quite a transformational work."
Transformational? That's the LEAST of it, in my mind
I have to tell you, based on what little I've read so far (I have "Deadly Spin" on my Kindle and my laptop) and on the interviews I've watched with him and Bill Moyers, Mr. Potter is INDEED the insurance industry's worst nightmare. In fact, Mr. Potter -- for all the tumult his book will eventually lead to (unless the industry smears him using some of the same techniques Mr. Potter himself used against documentary maker Michael Moore) -- could be the best thing that ever happened to this country, on multiple levels. And trust me, I don't use that trite old phrase lightly. Mr. Potter's attack of conscience that led to his leaving CIGNA might have been the kind of divine intervention that leads to a real revelation in public awareness of American business and government. And given the state of affairs in this country, that would be a very good thing.
I spoke about Wendell Potter recently on DeltaTalk Radio. One of the first questions out of one of my guests' mouth was, "Is he for real? Or is he simply out to sell books?"
Four words: HE'S DEFINITELY FOR REAL.
WendellPotter.com
Wendells Potter's page at the Center for Media and Democracy.
Wendell Potter's testimony before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee on September 15, 2009
Bill Moyers' interviews Wendell Potter
Wendell Potter appears on MSNBC's "The Ed Show"
And finally, here's a YouTube link you may find very interesting (I certainly did...unexpectedly so). On this video, Wendell Potter, appearing on Keith Olberman's program just after Deadly Spin was released, actually apologizes to filmmaker Michael Moore, whose film "Sicko" Potter was charged with trying to discredit. Moore describes him as "the Daniel Ellberg of healthcare."
Part 1
Part 2
Here's my opinion, born of research over the last week in preparation for our last show. Mr. Potter made plenty of money as the director of corporate communication for CIGNA, one of the largest private health insurers. He was living the good life. A powerful life. A connected life. In fact, it was such a good life that it took the death of one of his company's young insureds to wake him from his slumber of empathy.
Here's what happened, as outlined on Wikipedia (and confirmed by Potter in multiple interviews):
"...In December 2007, CIGNA was criticized after the company refused to pay for a liver transplant of a California teenage girl, Nataline Sarkisyan, justifying their refusal to pay by claiming that the procedure was experimental, even though there was a liver ready and waiting to be transplanted and doctors estimated she had a 65% chance of surviving at least 6 months. In response to much protest and public scrutiny, CIGNA reversed its decision, though Ms. Sarkisyan [died] awaiting the transplant. CIGNA notes that it had no financial stake in the decision to authorize the transplant because it merely administers the insurance plan of Mr. Sarkisyan's employer and would not bear the cost of any operation. However, CIGNA offered to pay for the transplant itself when it made the exception to the policy.
Even though liver transplants have been performed since 1963 and are a well accepted treatment option for end-stage liver disease and acute liver failure, CIGNA defended its actions by claiming that there was insufficient data to show that a transplant for a patient in Sarkisyan's condition would be safe and effective. Lawyers for her family are exploring litigation against Cigna.
Recently the California court agreed with Cigna's position that the Sarkisyans' claims regarding CIGNA's decision making were without merit. On April 16, 2009, the United States District Court for the Central District of California dismissed all of the claims against CIGNA related to the coverage determination..."
More to the point, though, Wendell Potter may very well be the first truly credible source of information about deceptive practices (or tendencies) inside the business world. And THAT information may lead to, as Ms. Landman wrote, a "transformation" in how we conduct business in America, and perhaps even how we elect (and monitor) our elected leaders.
And wouldn't THAT be a revelation?
Bottom line, keep your eyes on Wendell Potter. He gave up money, power, prestige, influence, and who knows what else to 'bring to light the well-kept secrets of the insurance industry.' In my opinion, it took real courage to step forward into this mission.
Now the next question is...what do we actually DO with the information he's given (and will give) us?
Stay tuned...
No comments:
Post a Comment