450,000 Doctors Can't Be Wrong (VIDEO)

The U.S. has a catastrophically fragmented system that provides incentives for sick care instead of prevention. The system is in dire need of reform -- reform to save lives, to save families and to save money for both patients and the American health care system.

"I spend 40 percent of my time away from my patients doing paperwork and getting prior authorizations. We need to start taking the barriers that are between me and my patients away." -- Jim King, MD, Family Physician in Selmer, Tenn.

It's time to put our health back where it belongs, out of greedy insurance companies' grasp and back into your and your doctor's hands. It's time to stand with more than 450,000 doctors who support health care reform.

When our friends at The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and Herndon Alliance (a nonpartisan coalition of more than 200 health-care provider organizations including the AARP, Mayo Clinic and Families USA) asked for our help, we produced this video featuring the doctors your family relies on for care. They are urging Americans to "Heal Health Care Now."

Now, it's your time to stand with more than 450,000 doctors who support health care reform. Make your voice heard and call Congress to reform health care: [phone].

With your help, we will change the health care system for the better. Brave New Films is gearing up with its own video, Sick For Profit, to expose abusive health insurance companies. If you or anyone you know has been neglected treatment or abandoned by a health insurance company, we need your story. Email [e-mail] and let us know. And, join us on Facebook and Twitter for special alerts.

Follow Robert Greenwald on Twitter: www.twitter.com/robertgreenwald

Comments

[tompoe]

450,000 doctors that are presently providing their patients with inferior health care in the U.S. The World Health Organizations ranks them behind 36 industrialized nations. Imagine, 36 nations provide superior health care. These doctors need a reality check. Reform is not the answer. Single Payer is the answer. 36 countries providing superior health care utilize some form of Single Payer. These doctors need to connect the dots. The U.S. citizens spend several times more for their health care than any other country. We do that, and we don't provide universal health care. Everyone else does. These doctors need to apologize big time for the harm they cause their patients and those they refuse to help, because those who are refused, are refused because they don't have insurance.

[sonoffestus]

It will not get fixed until it collapses completely, then you will get reform. There's still way to much profit to ring of of the sick and dying. Profit over patients, simple plan, it works, why change it. The American way. When has corporate America ever been concerned about citizen's health or well being?

There needs to be a progressive movement towards Social Capitalism. It will never happen of course, greed always overcomes the common good. Capitalism is the greatest engine for creating wealth. What is done with that wealth is another story. Corporations lack any sense of social responsibility or at best pay lip service to it. Why shouldn't society in general receive a greater share
of the pie. Our society allows and creates and environment for companies to prosper. Our people supply the human capital necessary for their survival. We have allowed them to rape and pillage our communities , then move on once they have extracted both our natural and human resources. But, since we are the "greatest nation", I guess it is OK.

[johnashman]

Corporations produce computers, phones, cars, fuel, electricity, appliances, homes, jobs.

What does government produce?

[sonoffestus]

If you read my post again you will see that I agree with you..........I said, "Capitalism is the greatest engine for creating wealth". I didn't say anything about government running businesses.

My point being, corporate social responsibility, but then it seems few in the states understand much about personal or social responsiblies.

When you live in a society that values the mighty dollar over people you end up where you are today. If wall street had a conscience, if they felt a responsibility to their clients, shareholders and country, would they have acted in the same manner? I do not know, but it's clear that without some sense of common good the results are not good.

I undertand your dislike for government. They piss me off as well, but we have allowed this to go on. It is happening again with the healthcare debate. You and I will be sold out again to the insurance companies and big pharma.

[sonoffestus]

I said nothing about government running businesses. My comments relate to the need for companies to develop a social conscience, and fairness in the work place. We would all be in a bettter place.

[mamalisa38]

This is why we won't get single payer health care: Drug and insurance company executive pay. The top ten drug company executives earned $199.5 million last year. Top ten insurance executives $85.6 million.
Miles White - Abbott - $17,395.00 per hour
Fred Hassan - Schering-Plough - $15,677.00 per hour
Bill Weldon - Johnson & Johnson - $13.022.00 per hour
Bob Essner - Wyeth - $12,522.00 per hour
Ron Williams - Aetna - $12,656.00 per hour
H Edward Hanway - CIGNA - $6,373.00 per hour
Angela Braly - WellPoint - $5,127.00 per hour
Outrageous. Don't forget that they also pay the shareholders.

[Gidster]

They pay Congressional shills as well!
Among the worst shills-- and this is just insurance cash, not the entire Medical-Industrial Complex, which is far more-- is this dirty dozen corrupt and sleazy characters:

John McCain (R-AZ)- $2,885,602
Ben Nelson (D-NE)- $1,210,299
Max Baucus (D-MT)- $1,182,613
Arlen Specter (D-R-PA)- $1,037,205
Joe Lieberman (D-CT)- $1,035,302
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)- $928,007
Chuck Grassley (R-IA)- $888,724
Kent Conrad (D-ND)- $825,337
Jim Bunning (R-KY)- $793,999
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)- $664,057
Kit Bond (R-MO)- $644,571
Dick Shelby (R--AL)- $637,748

[johnashman]

And how do your favorite politicians fare? Don't be shy, list all of them.

[QUO-VADIS]

There may be (probably is) 450,00 doctors who want reform, but there no one consensus on what type of reform, how to reform and so on.

That's like saying 450,000 chefs don't want to deep fry shrimp any more but you will have (like in the movie Forrest Gump) 1000 other ways to cook'em, saute, curry, scampi, grilled, BBQ, diabilo...­..........­..

[Derelict outlaw]

Listen to the Doctors, follow the advice of these learned people who know much more than I of the evils and perils we're confronting.

If we can make all primary care physicians 30% more efficient in their practice of medicine, by allowing them to just practice medicine and not spend hours each week talking to insurance adjusters with a GED about priorities; there will be no rationing issue in implementing change.......get it?

[QUO-VADIS]

There may be (probably is) 450,00 doctors who want reform, but there no one consensus on what type of reform, how to reform and so on.

That's like saying 450,000 chefs don't want to deep fry shrimp any more but you will have (like in the movie Forrest Gump) 1000 other ways to cook'em, saute, curry, scampi, grilled, BBQ, diabilo...­..........­..

[Gidster]

You said that two minutes before........

[johnashman]

I agree, but that doesn't mean that ObamaCare™ is the correct answer. This may be, however -

http://64.203.97.61/SolutionsLab/Solution.aspx?Guid=2d50363e-00be-44e8-9251-9a6589ba820d

Why? Because it drops the cost by more than 50%, it drops bureaucrac­y/paperwor­k to essentially zero, waste/fraud/abuse to essentially zero, keeps healthcare between the patient and doctor, is as easy to use as a Visa card or checkbook, it puts personally-run healthcare before all federal programs and taxes, and also addresses the complexity of the tax code while allowing you to be self-insured for unemployment, allows for worker retraining, education, kid's education and helps you buy a home. Seriously. And it doesn't need to be 1000 pages.

[Derelict outlaw]

Disingenuous disinformation that doesn't address the needs of the nation for real and substantive health care reform with the dismantling of the for profit system. Thanks for sharing,,,­,,,,nothin­g.

[johnashman]

Please explain that. What is disingenuous, what is disinformation? My system dismantles the 'for profit' system almost completely.

Do you think Obama's cozying up to insurance companies and forcing everyone to buy insurance is going to change the game? Insurance companies are psyched! 47M more customers!

Please explain your plan.

[Josie Gates]

ITS ALWAYS BEEN AMAZING AS THE JOBS AND HEALTHPLANS CHANGED THAT MY DOC NOT ONLY HAD TO KEEP UP WITH ADVANCING MEDICINE, BUT WITH ADVANCING HEALTH PLAN REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO TREAT ME IF I WAS SICK...

http://www.josieg6.wordpress.com

[Derelict outlaw]

Josie, this is now becoming SPAM please stop.

[jmpurser]

If the AARP is for it then it's not going to be that good. Remember their support for Bush's medicare plan?

[Samalabear]

They also have ties to UnitedHealth, so I tend to look a little askance when they're involved.

[den1953]

It's a real shame that everyone involved in this health care reform that all party's are greedy for other reasons then to truly reform things for the better no matter what sacrifice has to be made i believe if the country had to come together for any emergency we would fail because American spirit is lost!

[redsongia]

It's so true! All this talk about free market assumes that insurance companies are the market, when it's doctors that provide the services and patients the demand. Insurance companies just insert themselves into the mix.

[jmpurser]

And "markets" are horrible at managing something like health care which is worthless until you need it and then it's priceless!

[JuliaRain]

Bravo.

[publicenemy2009]

Great piece! I'll be calling again and again until these jerks get their butts in gear.

[BobLablah]

Why can't 450,000 doctors be wrong?