Don’t have a lot of time, but, honestly Earl Pomeroy is a weasel – hope you’re reading this Congressman – and I say this as a former resident who knows a lot of voters back there. And can’t sit down and read this all, but, from his website

UNFAIR COMPETITION:
North Dakota and the Public Insurance Option

Background: The presence of a public insurance option in North Dakota would increase consumer choice and promote competition in the marketplace.

This is bad?

The public option only works if it operates on a level playing field with private insurance providers, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, and does not unfairly advantage the public insurance option.

IE He has to protect his puppetmasters

Under the current version of the House health care reform bill, the public insurance option would reimburse providers at Medicare rates, which unfairly disadvantages North Dakota. Medicare underpays providers in North Dakota to begin with, so a public option that pays Medicare rates could diminish the quality and level of services available in our state,

He’s admitting he’s ineffectual. Please go on Congressman

leaving North Dakotans to potentially have drive to Minneapolis to see a specialist or having to wait longer to see a primary care provider.

Scare tactics. Are you a Republican?

Medicare reimbursements in North Dakota: According to a Milliman Medicare Comparison Study, North Dakota is reimbursed nine percent lower than its surrounding states under Medicare.

Isn’t this a “you” problem, Congressman?

When looking at Medicare reimbursements for typical hospital services, a Fargo hospital is reimbursed at 11.4 percent less than Miami, 28.4 percent less than Los Angeles and 35.9 percent less than New York. A public insurance option that pays Medicare rates to providers does nothing to lessen these payment inequities, but instead promotes it.

Could this possibly have anything to do with a higher cost of living in those areas?

Private insurance reimbursement less then surrounding states: North Dakota providers are also reimbursed 23 percent less by private insurers than surrounding states for inpatient hospital services and 38 percent less for outpatient hospital services. In addition, North Dakota is paid seven percent less by private insurers than surrounding states for physician services.

All the more reason BC/BS is perfect example of a money-grubbing-greedy-scrooge of a corporation

Unfair Competition: Private insurance reimbursement for health care services is 152% more than Medicare. According to data provided by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, if 30 percent of beneficiaries reimbursed by private payers transfer to a public plan, it will result in $131 million in annual lost reimbursements.

Really? You think they might be a little biased? There’s nobody at UND or NDSU that could possibly do study on health care in ND?

With nearly two-thirds of our state’s large health systems having negative operating margins, the loss of more than $100 million in reimbursements would substantially change the face of North Dakota health care delivery.

In other words BC/BS would be severely impacted

PS Bismarck is spelled with a “c”

Thank you Jane and Mike!

P.S. Damn. I said I’d shut up and here I am again, behaving like a Republican.