Here is a view from the New York Times of an almost uncontaminated health cartel arrangement in Idaho, a preview of what’s in store for us with the Unaffordable Care Act and an indication of why the corporate health stocks went wild after Roberts’ Supreme Court ruling and the re-election of the current head of state.  Notice that hospital control of the physician’s practices is an essential part of the cartel’s strategy.  The hostile takeover of physician practices by the hospitals was a predictable result of the Unaffordable Care Act, lower reimbursement for independent physicians (as opposed to the higher compensation for hospital-employed physicians) and additional overhead burdens (electronic medical records, for one) key parts of this health law.  

Interesting too, that only now, is the NYT reporting on a situation that has many clones all over the country and reporting on something that has been going on for many years.

G. Keith Smith, M.D.