The makings of a "secret" deal

[ProSense]

Sunlight Foundation

On March 5, the White House held a meeting with major health care industry leaders to try to bring them to the table and see what could be done to gain their support. In attendance were Billy Tauzin, president, CEO and top lobbyist for PhRMA, Pfizer CEO Jeff Kindler, America’s Health Care Plans (AHIP) Chairman Karen Ignani, Tom Donohue of the Chamber of Commerce and Robert Wood Johnson Foundations’ Risa Lavizzo-Mourey. A day before the White House meeting Tauzin appeared on CNBC touting health care reform and promising to work closely with the Obama administration. In the interview he touted it as an “optimistic plan”, acknowledging that the industry did have a few problems but was glad to have a chance to discuss these. Some were caught dumb-founded by this apparent change of heart on behalf of an industry long adverse to health care reforms.

PBS, March 5, 2009

The president gathered some 120 people representing varying facets of the industry -- from doctors to patients to health insurers to the drug industry -- along with lawmakers to discuss ways to reform the U.S. health system.

How do you make a secret deal in a publicly announced meeting?

All the WH meetings leading up to the deal being announced was reported in the news, Sunlight's release has all the links and a time line.