The Galen Institute applauds Chairman Robert Bennett (R-UT) and the members of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) for their upcoming hearing on “Consumer-Directed Doctoring: The Doctor Is In, Even If Insurance Is Out.” The hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 28, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. in 628 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
The JEC is exploring one of the cutting-edge developments in our health care system — the fact that increasing numbers of physicians are bailing out of the third-party payment system in favor of dealing directly with patients. These physicians are able to dramatically lower their costs and their charges by eliminating the massive overhead involved in dealing with third-party payers. They also restore the patient/physician relationship that managed care has all but destroyed. The result will be greater efficiency in financing and greater efficacy in treatment.
The Galen Institute has worked closely with two of the physicians testifying — Dr. Alieta Eck of the Zarephath Health Center in New Jersey and Dr. Robert Berry of the PATMOS EmergiClinic in Tennessee — and can vouch that these are two of the most articulate, outspoken, and dedicated doctors in America. They have important stories to tell from their experience in bringing about a revolution in American medicine.
We urge members of the press, Congressional staff, and policy developers to attend the hearing and learn what is happening out in the real world of medicine. Testimony will also be available on the Galen web site at www.galen.org.
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For more information on Health Savings Accounts and consumer driven health care, please contact:
Greg Scandlen
(301) 606-7364
gmscan@aol.com
For more information on the JEC hearing, please go to http://jec.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Releases.Release&ReleaseID=219247.
Click here to read Chairman Robert Bennett’s opening statement.
Click here to read Dr. Robert Berry’s testimony.
Click here to read Dr. Alieta Eck’s testimony.
Click here to read Dr. Bernard Kaminetsky’s testimony.
Click here to read Dr. Robert Berenson’s testimony.