Kucinich to Take On the “Bureaucracy of Private Health Insurance”

As congressional Republicans continue to warn that the Democrats’ health reform plans would “put government bureaucrats between you and your doctor,” Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) is planning an examination of the bureaucrats who are there now: the private insurers.

In two hearings scheduled for next week, Kucinich, who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform subpanel on domestic policy, will probe how the red tape of insurance companies affects patient care. On Wednesday, witnesses will include patients and doctors, no doubt with horror stories about denied claims and enormous medical bills. On Thursday, representatives from some of the nation’s largest insurers will have the chance to make their own case.

The hearings are aptly titled, “Between You and Your Doctor: the Bureaucracy of Private Health Insurance.”