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BEFORE I GO FURTHER, I WANT ALL LEE COUNTY CITIZENS TO OPEN THIS PETITION LINK AND CONSIDER ADDING TO THE PETITION LIST. APRIL 25TH, THIS UPCOMING THURSDAY AT 4PM, LEE HEALTH IS HOLDING A PUBLIC MEETING. THIS PETITION WILL BE PRESENTED BY YOURS TRULY.
For the past many decades, Americans have experienced the corporate model of
”roll-up” companies. The principle involves acquiring multiple (competing) smaller companies in the same industry and consolidating them under one umbrella company.
Examples: Tide Laundry service buying up all the mom and pop laundry services. Retail gas stations falling into one brand. CVS buying all the local mom and pop pharmacies. Hospitals buying up all health care providers. Did I just say that?
The principle of the roll-up model is to gain efficiency through larger market share and “sharing” common overhead. Conceptually (and in cases arguably like Tide) this can be an overall good/benefit to market participants. Assuming the parent umbrella company is superior to the mom and pop shops OR they add an additional value (such as consistency and improved product), this is a net market benefit.
This past week, I attended the 10th annual Free Market Medical Society National meeting. The history of this association goes back to like minded free market proponents deciding to change the status quo of the large insurance companies corporate take over of the US health care system. The founders had demonstrated that they could compete on price and quality with their local (Oklahoma City) hospital conglomerate for surgical procedures. They offered all-in bundled pricing for joint replacements, hernia repairs, gall bladder resections, and numerous other surgical services.
One founder, Keith Smith MD opened his cash price fully transparent ambulatory surgical center to the public. Another founder, Jay Kempton, was a third party health benefits broker who was protolyzing to health insurance and benefit brokers on the 4 principles of a free market and transparent health care market. The initial meeting was also facilitated by an economy policy and DC lobbyist and author, Charles Sauer. All three were at this meeting and were key speakers as well.
After working hard in our local Lee county Independent Physicians Association Of Lee County, due to ongoing “wrap ups” of independent practices and loss of independent representation, our board voted to dissolve and we recommended the remaining “die hards” join the Free Market Medical Association. In the process, I offered myself as Chapter Leader for Florida. The Association designated us the Florida Southwest Chapter, anticipating other Florida chapters will develop regionally.
In the near future, I intend to do a post on this event including providing readers some great book resources for exploring the alternative to the ever expanding beast of hospital acquisition, government and insurance sanctioned roll-up model health care.
Some in the corporate underground are rumored to be anticipating perhaps 3-4 oligopolies running the entire health care shebang. As this wrap up rolls out, our country is losing our physicians. We are losing market access, quality and lower costs as part of this one sided bargain. As we doctors age out and under the imposed payment constraints, are unable to provide a viable practice model. The ruling three ring circus is forcing patients to “accept” the corporate beast of health care.
The underground, revolutionaries in the Free Market Medical Association are providing the hacksaws and files to help our society break out of jail.
I am working on offering a meeting for our local market and small business owners to learn more about alternatives to the status quo and health care. Please consider answering this poll to give me an idea of the level of interest.
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I am a retired Primary Care Physician living in Ft Myers who has seen the ongoing degradation throughout the nation of medical care due to this vertical and horizontal integration. I would be happy to support your cause and that of the organization in any capacity that I can.
Gerald M Casey MD
Go get em Dr Kordonowy!