Research Firm Cited by GOP Is Owned by Health Insurer (WaPo)

[jefferson_dem]

Research Firm Cited by GOP Is Owned by Health Insurer

By David S. Hilzenrath
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 3:37 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.

In January, UnitedHealth agreed to a $50 million settlement with the New York attorney general and a $350 million settlement with the AMA, covering conduct going back as far as 1994.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/22/AR2009072202216_pf.html

[Spazito]

1. Oh my, is this actual journalism rearing it's head???

I hope this is on the Front Page of the WP, it certainly should be!

Thanks for the OP, it is very, VERY interesting!

Recommended.

[jefferson_dem]

2. Indeed.

The President telegraphed this just yesterday.

"Obama: Health Care Opponents Waiting For Special Interests To Kill Reform"
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/2009/07/obama-health-care-opponents-waiting-for-special-interests-to-kill-reform.php

If they/we can reframe the debate as it should be - the people versus the entrenched, money-grubbing industry, we will get exactly the kind of reforms we need.

[quantass]

3. Dont worry..it will not be talked about anymore than this...i guarantee it. nt

[DrToast]

4. There goes that coporate media trying to kill health care reform!

[rvablue]

5. Of course, it is!

:puke:

[wiggs]

6. Probably just a coincidence.... nt