Bill Frist is the Republican name most closely vested in the health care industry. The friday document dump included several major scandals all of which seem to have a nexus of Frist.
Healthsouth's William Owen got 5 years and uncovered a 2.7 billion embezzlement/price fixing scheme via wiretap. His boss was let go:
"Dec. 9 (Bloomberg) -- William T. Owens, who wore a wire to help the FBI uncover a $2.7 billion fraud at HealthSouth Corp., was sentenced to five years, the longest prison term given a defendant in the scandal, by a judge who called the acquittal of Owens's boss, Richard Scrushy, ``a travesty.'' "
http://quote.bloomberg.com/...
Healthsouth was a big time
RNC supporter... as you can see it appears their donations were poised to oppose health care reform in the late 90s. Still Healtsouth was Frist's number
eight career contributor from 1989 until today of the seventeen million Frist has gathered in during his political career. "
Retiring at session end
1989-2006 Total Receipts: $17,272,715"
They aren't the only Frist contributor to feel the heat of scandal...
12/08/05: Merck Is Feeling Even More Vioxx Heat
PAUL KANGAS: "Controversy is swirling tonight around drug maker Merck and its anti-arthritis drug Vioxx. Late today the "New England Journal of Medicine" issued what`s called an "expression of concern," after learning information about heart attacks had been omitted from a research study Merck did five years ago. The journal also alleges other information was deleted from the research before publication. Vioxx was withdrawn from the market last year on concerns about heart risks. Two product liability lawsuits have already been tried over the drug and
a third went to the jury today in Texas."
The Vioxx homicides are a prime example of how Republican leadership and their vision of "voluntary compliance" is anathema to safety and transparency.
"Merck said it appropriately disclosed the facts in that study, is confident in its research and only recently learned of the journal`s concerns. The journal has called on the authors of that disputed report to submit a correction. "
http://www.nightlybusiness.org/...
Merck & Co
$4,307 for the year 2000, when money first helped buy out the electoral process in full.
Merck now only contributes to Republicans. Their only soft contribution to Dems was a meager $250 dollars in the year 2000 out of the last three major cycles. Frist appears to be the person who steers their donors on the front line of Congress' floor.
HCA is another Frist scandal.
"On Sept. 29, HCA disclosed (here) that the SEC had issued a formal order of investigation,"
"A Washington Post article (here) discusses e-mails involving the decision-making process for the sale of Senator Frist's HCA stock from the so-called "blind trusts" that held the shares."
"Senator Frist's Blind Trusts
In addition to seeking information from HCA, Inc., federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and attorneys from the Enforcement Division of the SEC have contacted Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's office for information related to the sales of HCA stock in so-called "blind trusts" that held assets in his name, and for his wife and children. With the parallel investigations, Senator Frist may be asked to testify under oath before the Commission staff and federal prosecutors, and could even be subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in Manhattan."
Insider trading, price fixing of stocks, one sided donations to match the K street sellout.
Bill Frist and his nexus of insiders set to profit off of it while more American than ever go uninsured or fall below the poverty line and we're left to pick up the costs bailing out companies in bankruptcy who outsource and blame healthcare as a reason.