Research Firm Cited by GOP Is Owned by Health Insurer

[kpete]

Source: Washington Post

Research Firm Cited by GOP Is Owned by Health Insurer
By David S. Hilzenrath
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 22, 2009; 6:46 PM

The political battle over health-care reform is waged largely with numbers, and few number-crunchers have shaped the debate as much as the Lewin Group, a consulting firm whose research has been widely cited by opponents of a public insurance option.

To Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House Republican whip, it is "the nonpartisan Lewin Group." To Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee, it is an "independent research firm." To Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the second-ranking Republican on the pivotal Finance Committee, it is "well known as one of the most nonpartisan groups in the country."

Generally left unsaid amid all the citations is that the Lewin Group is wholly owned by UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation's largest insurers.

More specifically, the Lewin Group is part of Ingenix, a UnitedHealth subsidiary that was accused by the New York attorney general and the American Medical Association, a physician's group, of helping insurers shift medical expenses to consumers by distributing skewed data. Ingenix supplied its parent company and other insurers with data that allegedly understated the "usual and customary" doctor fees that insurers use to determine how much they will reimburse consumers for out-of-network care.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/22/AR2009072202216.html?hpid=topnews

[redqueen]

1. "Nonpartisan"... do they ever stop lying?

No, no they don't.

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Hell, the Heritage Foundation is "nonpartisan."

"Nonpartisan" has nothing to do with objectivity or what-have-you, as people always assume.

[redqueen]

14. Um... pardon?

Did you check the definition of the word 'partisan' before posting that?

[TheEuclideanOne]

22. The dictionary makes the same asumption

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Nonpartisan

non⋅par⋅ti⋅san  
–adjective
1. not partisan; objective.
2. not supporting or controlled by a political party, special interest group, or the like.

So, in short, the dictionary definition of Partisan is: OBJECTIVE. Perhaps that is why people always make that assumption :rofl:

Were you using the Freeper Dictionary?

Fun Fact:

Jackpine Radical
–adjective
1. Somebody who speaks before thinking
2. A person who clicks the "Post Message" button when he really should not

[Jackpine Radical]

25. Here is the legal definition of the Heritage Foundation.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Heritage+Foundation



The Heritage Foundation is a nonpartisan, tax-exempt institution and is governed by an independent board of trustees. It relies on the private financial support of individuals, foundations, and corporations for its income and accepts no government funds and performs no contract work. Currently, it receives support from more than 200,000 contributors. Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C.


Your apology for your nasty snark will be graciously accepted.

[TheEuclideanOne]

30. Okay, so I am guilty of excessive snarkiness, my apology

I sometimes get caught up on words. Although the heritage foundation may be non-partisan, I was simply reacting to the comment that the word "Non-partisan" does not mean objective and backing it up by dictionary definition. I may have gotten a bit carried away in my delivery, sorry.

[Jackpine Radical]

41. You backed it up with one dictionary definition, while ignoring the second one.

[TheEuclideanOne]

46. Dictionaries are scary and confusing, aren't they?

If a word like Non Partisan has multiple definitions, then it can have different meanings depending on the context. If one of the meanings is "objective" (see dictionary reference earlier) then it means "objective" is one of the definitions and is used properly when used in the right context. It is possible that it could have other meanings. In fact, you can borrow somebody's dictionary or have somebody read just about any definition in there to you. You will see that most words in there have multiple definitions. Here is the kicker.... they are all actual definitions. I know that it must come as a shocker to you.

For example...If you see multiple definitions "a", "b" and "c", it means that a word has 3 possible meanings. Just because you see definition "c" does not mean definitions "a" and "b" are wrong. They are all correct in the right context. I know.... dictionaries are scary and confusing, but eventually they can be your friends.

[TankLV]

52. Actually, choice "a" is THE preferred, most common, definition.

while choices "b", etc. are LESSER or even RARELY USED definitions, depending on the word.

That is the way ALL dictionaries are used.

To claim choice "c" is specious (highly improbable) at best...

[redqueen]

35. That doesn't change the meaning of the word. (nt)

[Jackpine Radical]

40. Words can have more than one definition.

In this context, "nonpartisan" is a legal term having to do with tax-exempt status.

And on the topic of definitions, words can have technical definitions, common definitions, operational definitions, legal definitions, diagnostic definitions, etc.

[redqueen]

43. And in the context of insurers owning research firms and then being used to argue against reform?

Which definition would you choose for that context?

Christ.

[Jackpine Radical]

47. Obviously they're pushing an agenda.

My original point, perhaps clumsily phrased, was that many organizations use the word "nonpartisan" for groups like the Heritage Foundation and Cato, thereby implying that they are fair, unbiased, etc., but that this is an incorrect conclusion to draw from the attribution of "nonpartisan" status to the organization. They are, in effect, playing on the confusion between the two definitions.

[lexanman]

66. is that sort of like

foxnews being fair and balanced? They describe themselves as non-partisan. I could describe myself as a 10 foot purple monster, but I would be lying. So are they.

[DaLittle Kitty]

54. Excellent Point! It's ALL A Chirade!

Then there's the Corp Media giving "credibility" to this PROPAGANDA!

[JDPriestly]

33. United Healthcare is not partisan, it's just greedy.

[redqueen]

34. If they're owned by an insurer,

I'd be hard-pressed to believe they didn't skew their findings to benefit the industry that writes their checks.

[JDPriestly]

44. Of course. Statistics are the result of applying mathematical formulas

to assumed facts. Skew the assumed facts, the assumptions, and you get skewed statistics.

[Lucky Luciano]

63. One of the truest statements in statistics is that....

if you torture the data, then it will always confess.

In other words, preconceived notions and biases can almost always be validated by a statistical analysis by cherry picking data and data mining etc. Quantitative traders on Wall St are often put up against this problem as they seek statistical trading strategies while trying to avoid data mining that may validate an idea that they badly want to work in their backtests - it can be disastrous if sloppy datamining is used to vaildate a potential strategy which is then traded live when there was, in fact, no edge.

[PainPerdu]

62. The Cantor's wife=Greed Redux

GOP House Whip's Wife 'Didn't Know' Her Banking Firm Benefited ...WASHINGTON — A bank that employs the wife of Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-Va., benefited from the $700 billion Wall Street bailout that Cantor ...
crooksandliars.com/.../gop-house-whips-wife-didnt-know-her-b - Cached - Similar

Aram Roston: GOP Congressman Cantor's Wife's Bank Did Well in the ...Jan 23, 2009 ... The congressman: House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA). The wife: Diana Cantor, managing director of the Virginia subsidiary of New York ...
www.huffingtonpost.com/.../gop-congressman-cantors-w_b_160420.html - Cached - Similar

GOP Finds Gingrich's Heir In Eric Cantor: New York TimesFeb 15, 2009 ... Let's catch up with Eric Cantor. His wife now has a job that is she only vaguely qualified for at a bank. A bank that received bailout money ...
www.huffingtonpost.com/.../gop-finds-gingrichs-heir_n_167025.html - Cached - Similar

Bank Employing GOP House Leader's Wife Got Bailout Bucks - ProPublicaJan 23, 2009 ... House Republican Whip Eric Cantor, a rising star in the Republican party, ... stock in a private banking company that employs Cantor's wife. ...
www.propublica.org/.../bank-employing-gop-house-leaders-wife-got-bailout-bucks-090123 - Cached - Similar

[Styxiv]

61. Well

Does this really surprise ANYONE?? not really....

[LiberalAndProud]

2. Oh no!! I hit the wrong button. Fark!

:kick:

I'll kick this 10 times to make up for my error.

[progressoid]

23. I've done that too...

Happened to me just a couple days after it was implimented.

I'll rec this one for you OK?

[LiberalAndProud]

56. Thank you!

I'll get you back.

[global1]

3. Now We All Know That - Why Isn't Some Dem or The MSM Bringing That To......

everyone's attention?

[bbgrunt]

19. ...it almost seems like the dems don't want correct info out....

because they certainly have enough staff to dig up the conflict of interest here.

[ensho]

4. Cantor is a neo con punk

nt

[Downwinder]

5. How did this article slip by the censors? n/t

[tomm2thumbs]

6. nice find - thanks for posting!

[LiberalAndProud]

7. Counting down ... 9 ...

and I'll add an interesting note about UnitedHealth:

Despite enrollment that’s fallen 2 percent year-over-year, UnitedHealth’s earnings per share for the quarter were 73 cents, up from 27 cents per share in the second quarter of 2008. Last year’s earnings included a pretax charge of 47 cents per share for the settlements of two class-action lawsuits related to a stock-options backdating scandal.

http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2009/07/20/daily34.html

:kick:

[wilt the stilt]

16. collecting premiums

and people not having enough money to see a Doctor or people going to catastrophic insurance. Either way no claims being paid. quality healthcare at it's finest

[mbperrin]

8. Gosh! Big insurance cheating to get more money by fraud!

Can't believe it!

Really, can't believe anything else.

Bout ready to call Judge Lynch into court, I think.

[libodem]

11. Just shocking!

WTF?:wow:

[sofa king]

9. The GOP relies on the bandwagon approach more than Enzyte.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyte

And, I suspect, there is considerable overlap between Enzyte customers and Republicans.

[dgibby]

10. Fowarded to Big Ed.

I'm sure Big Eddie will find this most interesting! Thanks.

[LiberalAndProud]

12. 8 ... and the understatement of the month award goes to ...

Lewin Group Vice President John Sheils said his firm had nothing to do with the Ingenix reimbursement data. Lewin has gone through "a terribly difficult adjustment" since it was bought by UnitedHealth in 2007, he said, because the corporate ownership "does create the appearance of a conflict of interest."

[AlbertCat]

27. "does create the appearance of a conflict of interest."

CREATE the APPEARANCE....?


But you ARE Blanche. You are in the chair!

[texanshatingbush]

42. "does create the appearance of a conflict of interest." LOL!

Shakespeare had it right many centuries ago, and politicians/bigwigs everywhere still haven't figured it out: Caesar's wife must be above reproach.

[jfkraus]

15. Republican Dictionary Terms (aka Opposite World)

Nonpartisan: do not consider the concerns of any other party
Nonpartisan cooperation: all other parties do what the Republican party wants

See how that works?

[Mr. Sparkle]

17. I would like to say I'm shocked, but I'm not

it just confirms everything that I have thought about republicans. For shame!

[Puppyjive]

18. United Healthcare = Republicans = Homegrown Terrorists

United Healthcare is the worst health insurance company in operation. I battled the company for years, trying to get them to pay for medical bills for my pregnancy. What they did was completely illegal. They insured me because my employer plan excluded coverage for pregnancy. They worked out the plan with my employer, who broke the law by not covering pregnancy. I fought my employer and United Healthcare for years. I spent hundreds of hours on the hold with the company. My parents have been denied claims by this company. My friend works in a clinic and she said this company is by far, the worst insurance company ever, to deal with. The republican party is a bunch of idiots, who want to companies and organizations who are inflicting grave damage to our country. Homegrown terrorists might be a good name for them.

[mnhtnbb]

36. Choose life--but at your expense! What a bunch of hypocrites.

[fascisthunter]

20. Exposure is dangerous... no wonder the GOP does most things in the dark

[HughMoran]

21. Hmmm, well there's a surprise. K&R to the moon

Republicans - never honest about ANYTHING!

[newtothegame]

24. Can't say I'm surprised; everybody does this. Hell the ACLU is "nonpartisan." n/t

[Piewhacket]

31. DU is nonpartisan, not affiliated with any political party

and we even let Repukes, Freepers, and similar turds post here (until we catch 'em).

So can we publish a "non-partisan" survey too?
Oh please oh please?

[Cleita]

26. Well, most of these institutes with their cooked book figures usually can

be traced back to very partisan organizations. I've been doing it for years and the astroturf they spread is alarming.

[Piewhacket]

28. This is rich. Call LYING LIARS Cantor & Hatch out to explain!!! On the Senate Floor.

[mvd]

29. K&R for exposure

:kick:

[GreenTea]

32. Silmy fucking republicans, they purposely use a source they know is based on lies and

bullshit data to make the case for their lying corporate policies & agenda....

The republicans absolutely always know the source they use is paid off, or the source is benefiting from the republicans bullshit corporate agenda....

To corporatise all of America - While the Americans people will be their slaves with no power to stop the monster corporate machine...

That's your life baby, and it will get much worse if the republicans get their way and destroy public option for health care.

[midnight]

37. The Gop seems to have created a pattern of using skewed data.

From starting wars, to blocking healthcare coverage. If the gop operated by the facts, they would not get any traction.

[Enthusiast]

71. You nailed it, midnight!

They wouldn't bother to speak if it was not for the misinformation they had to pass on.

[JohnWxy]

38. Can the REpublicans EVER support their position WITHOUT LIEING??? CAN THEY???

RECOMMENDED!

[Incitatus]

49. No, they're con men.

It would be like a used car salesman telling you the transmission on the car you looking at needs to be replaced, or a shady contractor telling you he's just going to run off with your check and not replace your roof.

[fascisthunter]

51. in order for them to, they'd have to admit mountains of lies

they have told throughout their lives, and that there is probably too much for these cowards to handle. Then again, lot's of Republicans are sociopaths and pathological liars.

[Hubert Flottz]

39. Lying is a habit to these anti-American pigs.

[radhika]

45. Reality Check: Lewin Promoted California's Single Payer Plan

Lewin Group was very visible providing the cost-benefit analysis of a Single Payer system for California. They strongly promoted it, stressing major cost savings. The below link is just one of many that docments their work for the legislation drafted by Democrat Sheila Kuehl (now termed out). SP was passed twice by CA legislature, but vetoed twice by the governor.

http://www.newrules.org/equity/rules/singlepayer-and-universal-health-care/single-payer-health-care-california

How objective and effective they are is up for debate, but they have played for the other team. At least in CA.

[LiberalAndProud]

57. ..7... It is debatable. Ingenix bought Lewin Group much later.

The California Health Insurance Reliability Act is based on a model released in January 2005 by the Lewin Group, an independent health care analysis firm. It would provide all state residents with full coverage of medical, dental, vision, and hospitalization services, and pharmaceutical benefits, through a statewide, single payer system.
http://www.newrules.org/equity/rules/singlepayer-and-universal-health-care/single-payer-health-care-california

Ingenix acquires Lewin Group; `Go to' consultancy boosts UnitedHealth's portfolio.
Publication: Modern Healthcare
Publication Date: 18-JUN-07
Edit to add link. http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-6689183/Ingenix-acquires-Lewin-Group-Go.html

[BradXXX]

65. So...

They were for it before they were against it.:popcorn:

[LiberalAndProud]

68. Why, yes! Yes they were, now that you mention it.

[DesertFlower]

48. is anyone surprised? nt

[Oldtimeralso]

50. United Health uses

Ingenix, a UnitedHealth subsidiary to deny payments. I have neurological damage in both feet,legs,arms & hands. I also have fibromyalgia and several other health problems. As part of my group coverage I must use certain doctors. I went to a UHC approved Rheumatologist and they are denying payment as they claim my problems as a "workman's comp" problem. I worked in an industry not covered by Workman's comp. So after several hours on the phone with UHC, Ingenix, and the Doctor's billing office partial payment has been made. As I was told that full payment must be made before my next appointment (July 31st)I have resigned myself to make the payment from my disability check (which hopefully will be in my account August 1st). Ingenix sent me several letters asking why I did not apply for Workman's Comp.


Sorry to turn this into a UHC bitch session, but this is the second time that UHC has interferred in my health care, the first cost my most of my vision an eye.

[Enthusiast]

72. Oldtimer, I hope

we enact meaningful healthcare legislation that will help you with your problems before any more damage is done.

[BlueIdaho]

53. But will the MSM actually report this story?

I bet they won't.

[Enthusiast]

73. They will not!

Coverage is entirely one sided.

[nradisic]

55. Who believes what these assholes say?

I mean really....I cannot believe that there is still anyone short of racists, bigots, greedy assholes and brainwashed morons who believes anything coming out of any Republican mouth. If you have half a fucking brain, you should have written this scum a long time ago...I can't even bother to waist my breath longer.Peace.

[DallasNE]

58. $400 Million In Judgments

No wonder they also want tort reform. They are likely the source for the charges that women in Canada have a 25% higher mortality rate for breast cancer than American women. Well, don't just give us the headline. Where is the supporting documentation. Let's have the full report on all types of breast cancer and not just some sub-group. Frankly, I don't see how Lewin Group can be treated as a trusted source without much better transparency regarding sources and methods given their obvious conflict of interest.

[sarcasmo]

59. Killing Americans, one Greedy dollar at a time.

[kevsters]

60. Here is the newest GOP talking point on health care.

I really think that all of these crazy GOP talking points are taking their toll.

Here is Bill O'Reilly unveiling the newest.

http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2266

[johnaries]

64. Non-partisan? Yeah, because they don't care WHO they pay off.

[Beartracks]

67. LOL "Nonpartisan" doesn't mean "not interested"!

That word gets used a bunch as if to say that some "nonpartisan" organization is therefore dispassionate and completely objective.

[eridani]

69. This is actually a comparatively recent ownership change

The original Lewin Group was the group that demonstrated that single payer was the best option in California back in 2003. They compared 10 different plans.

[gtar100]

70. K&R to keep this in the front of our minds

I'm sure CNN, CBS, and ABC are on top of it and will be reporting to expose this fraud. :sarcasm: :grr:

[Enthusiast]

74. Right!

:sarcasm: :spank:

[DallasNE]

75. Just Now On MSNBC

A Republican Congressman quoted the Lewin Group and was asked "who funded this" study he was quoting the Congressman answered "I think the foundation". Since this is privately owned by UnitedHealth Group rather than being non-profit I seriously doubt there is a foundation involved which means the Republican Congressman was knowingly dishonest. It also shows that these MSM people need further education on this issue so they can call out these obvious distortions. As it was, there was no follow-up. While the UnitedHealth Group is technically non-partisan they are certaily not disinterested and that needs to be called to attention over and over again.

[unpossibles]

76. not very surprising. nt

[Uncle Joe]

77. Why am I not surprised?

Thanks for the thread, kpete.:thumbsup:

[LiberalAndProud]

78. ...6... For the weekend crowd.

:kick:

[DeeDeeNY]

79. No need for the word "alleged" anymore for Lewin Group's criminality

Their parent company Ingenix settled for $50 million with NY Atty General.

"Cuomo stated that the Ingenix database has been used as “a scheme to defraud customers” and consistently understated the usual, customary, and reasonable rate used to reimburse health care consumers. The Attorney General described the data provided by Ingenix as “unreliable, inadequate, and wrong,” noting that it understated market rates by up to 28%."

http://www.hanys.org/news/index.cfm?storyid=731