Seattle Times - "Who's behind the fight against health-care change"

There is a certain mythology being push by the astroturf folks on the left are saying that we should drop all efforts at healthcare reform and start from scratch, which oddly enough is the same thing being said by the GOP. The idea is that some magical strategy, approach or PR blitz will cause those fighting against reform to drop their opposition. Of course, there are the Republicans who simply want to score political points. However, there are folks who have billions of dollars on the line, who are willing to do anything to oppose reform. This is why they are so willing to spend untolds somes of money to spread lies, and engage in astroturf campaigns against reform. Sadly, conservatives are not the only dupes who are buying into the talking points.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009674856_healthlobby17.html

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Who's behind the fight against health-care change

Much of the money and strategy behind the so-called grass-roots groups organizing opposition to the Democrats' health-care plans comes from conservative political consultants, professional organizers and millionaires, some of whom hold financial stakes in the outcome.
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Here's who's behind them:

Conservatives for Patients' Rights is led by health-care entrepreneur Rick Scott, the co-founder of Solantic urgent-care walk-in centers, which he's spread across Florida and is looking to expand. While 80 percent of its patients have at least some insurance, Solantic also bills itself as an alternative to emergency-room care and a resource for patients with no insurance.

Scott left his job as CEO of the Columbia/HCA hospitals during a federal Medicare-fraud probe in 1997 that led to a historic $1.7 billion settlement. He wasn't prosecuted and got a golden parachute.

Solantic's growth, Scott said in a telephone interview, is, in part, because of the trend in which "deductibles and co-payments are going up. As that happens, more people want us."

Scott said he wasn't concerned that the Democrats' proposed revisions would undercut his business: "It's irrelevant to us." Instead, he said he opposes the Democrats' plans because he doesn't believe that government involvement will contain health-care costs. He sees it killing off the best private-insurance plans and ultimately leading to a single-payer system, which he predicted would lead to waiting lists and denial of treatments.

Scott said he supports some government intervention — such as preventing insurers from dumping sick patients. Those who can't afford coverage on their own should get vouchers or tax credits, he said.<[br />
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