Too many workers’ comp execs are allowing their political viewpoints to cloud their business thinking. They can’t abide the notion of PPACA/Obamacare, and along with the majority party in the House of Repesentatives, want it repealed or blown up or completely emasculated.
This is magical thinking.
And magical thinking will not help those execs, or their companies, prepare for or deal with the implications of Obamacare.
Look, as an proud socially-liberal Democrat (as if that’s any new news to you, dear reader), I had to suffer thru 8 long, painful, miserable, agonizing, soul-destroying years of George Bush. For those of you on the other side of the political spectrum, I feel your pain. Really. Even if the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave is pretty far from a liberal (sorry, had to slip that in!).
That said, it’s time to accept reality.
PPACA/Obamacare is the law of the land, it is not going to be repealed, substantially delayed, or emasculated. It is here, and it is going to stay.
Despise it you might (as I despise Medicare Part D and the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, and the Iraq war) but accept it you must. If you spend your work time focused on what you don’t like about health reform, you’re not spending your time thinking about reform’s implications for workers’ comp – how you can mitigate any problems, leverage any advantages, and monitor and measure ways reform affects your business.
What does this mean for you?
Those who do focus on the business implications are going to be better prepared, and therefore more likely to be successful, than those who dwell on uncontrollables.
Bravo Joe! As someone back down in the trenches it’s mind boggling to hear attorneys, executives and the rest bash the ACA as if somehow making disparaging remarks is going to change anything. Please continue to help them recognize the only way to deal with the ACA is to understand it and embrace it so as to fully utilize the good parts and minimize the bad parts.
Suggestions on killing or at least slowing down repackaging.
Amen! The Group Health Insurance Execs have embraced the Healthcare Law and found the OPPORTUNITY for their business (dispite their personal/company political leanings).