Doctor Patient Unity is
corporate lobbying front group
A front organization is any entity set up by and controlled by another organization, such as intelligence agencies, organized crime groups, terrorist organizations, secret societies, banned organizations, religious or political groups, advocacy ...
funded by
private equity firm
A private equity firm is an investment management company that provides financial backing and makes investments in the private equity of startup or operating companies through a variety of loosely affiliated investment strategies including le ...
owned doctor staffing companies to oppose laws to stop surprise billing in the
US medical system. The group is funded by
Blackstone (owner of
TeamHealth
TeamHealth is a physician practice in the U.S. founded in 1979 and based in Knoxville, Tennessee, pursuing medical outsourcing. Originally a provider of emergency department services, it is outsourcing physicians in emergency medicine, hospital ...
) and
KKR
KKR & Co. Inc., also known as Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., is an American global investment company that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and, through its strateg ...
(owner of
Envision Healthcare
Envision Healthcare is an American healthcare company and national hospital-based physician group.
History
In December 2016, Envison and AMSURG merged, and shortly thereafter the company's stock replaced Legg Mason in the S&P 500 index.
In 2 ...
) and has spent more than $57 million on advertisements opposing the legislation to restrict surprise billing, at the same time cutting pay and benefits for
emergency room
An emergency department (ED), also known as an accident and emergency department (A&E), emergency room (ER), emergency ward (EW) or casualty department, is a medical treatment facility specializing in emergency medicine, the acute care of pa ...
doctors and other medical workers.
The primary aim of the group is to stop The House Energy and Commerce Committee's No Surprises Act (HR 3630) and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee's Lower Health Care Costs Act (S 1895).
The group's tactics include targeting specific lawmakers who are standing for reelection in 2020 including Sen.
John Cornyn
John Cornyn III ( ; born February 2, 1952) is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States senator from Texas, a seat he has held since 2002. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the Senate majority whip fo ...
(R-Tex.), Rep.
Dan Kildee
Daniel Timothy Kildee (; born August 11, 1958) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Michigan's 5th congressional district since 2013. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
From 1977 to 2009, Kildee was a municipal ...
(D-Mich.) and Sen.
Marsha Blackburn
Mary Marsha Blackburn (née Wedgeworth; born June 6, 1952) is an American politician and businesswoman serving as the senior United States senator from Tennessee, a seat she has held since 2019. She is a member of the Republican Party. Blackbur ...
(R-Tenn.) and
fearmongering
Fearmongering, or scaremongering, is a form of manipulation that causes fear by using exaggerated rumors of impending danger.
Theory
According to evolutionary psychology, humans have a strong impulse to pay attention to danger because awareness ...
.
[{{Cite web, title=Secretive front group targets vulnerable senators with $2.3M ad blitz over surprise medical bills fight, url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2019/08/secretive-front-group-targets-vulnerable-senators-with-2-3-million-ad-blitz-over-surprise-medical-bills-fight/ , date=2019-08-06, publisher=]OpenSecrets
OpenSecrets is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that tracks data on campaign finance and lobbying. It was created from a merger of the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) and the National Institute on Money in Politics (NIMP) ...
References
Front organizations