To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. – Thomas Paine

I can’t help but now wade into the controversy that has become a nasty and mean spirited debate on healthcare reform.  First of all, let me say that like most Americans I still do not understand why we need a public government insurance option.  It just isn’t making any sense to me.

Look, I hope that everyone is on board with the idea that no American citizen should go without healthcare coverage. I believe my industry is on board. The problem is the solution that is being offered in the form of a government run entity. The proponents of this government plan keep touting that it will “increase competition” and “keep insurers honest.”  Let me address those two issues from my perspective of a CEO of a managed behavioral healthcare company.

1) “Keep insurers honest.”  First, I have to tell you, I find this argument personally insulting.  I am a licensed psychologist who until 10 years ago was a provider, treating consumers with mental illness and substance abuse disorders.  The insinuation of the “honesty” argument is that I wake up everyday putting profits before the needs of over 1 million consumers under my responsibility.  At 52 years of age, I have spent my entire life dedicated to the cause of ensuring that the behavioral health needs of everyone are met to the greatest extent possible.  Second, managed care is one of the most regulated industries, except for maybe the airlines industry, that I have ever seen.  I am audited and regulated down to the font size of my letters to consumers.  I am audited by accreditation agencies, various Federal agencies such as CMS, the SEC, as well as state agencies.  There is nothing hidden or invisible about what my company does, and yes, the auditing includes my financials.

2) “Increase competition”.  Pardon me?!  Then who were United and Magellan Health Services who I bid against for recent contracts?  In a recent bid, we were included in a field of FIVE competitive bids for a state behavioral health contract.  There is plenty of competition now, trust me; in fact a public option, in my opinion, would actually kill competition especially for smaller companies like mine.  A company is going to need to have deep pockets to compete with the price fixing practices of a government run public health entity. As a smaller, but growing company, I cannot compete against the Cignas, Aetnas and Uniteds of the world if there is a public option.  What will happen is consolidation of the healthcare industry into a few behemoths. Anyone remember AIG or the consolidation of the banking and finance industry? Or the bail outs?  So I ask you my intelligent and informed reader, why this same consolidation would not happen in the private healthcare industry in order to “compete” against a public healthcare solution?

Don’t get me wrong, I think the entire healthcare industry could be more efficient and that there is still unnecessary waste and fraud.  But let’s fix the current system, and get everyone covered.  We do not need yet another government bureaucracy.

Oh, and let’s please debate this without screaming and name calling. I’ve never felt compelled to spread outrageous lies not supported by facts, nor to accuse those who don’t agree with me of being “Nazis” (talk about the diminution of the holocaust, one of the darkest chapters in human history).  I am ashamed of how this debate has been conducted and regardless of how passionate you feel and where you stand on this issue, abusive behavior and screaming don’t make your argument.

-Sam Donaldson

CEO Cenpatico

These are personal views and not those of Cenpatico or any persona or entity affiliated with Cenpatico.

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Tags: america, behavioral, care, coverage, government, government option, health, health insurance, healthcare, hope, illness, insurace, managed, managed health care, mental, opinion, recovery, reform, resiliency, results