Karen Ignagni could break President Barack Obama's health care agenda

[steven johnson]

There are some industry heavy hitters trying to mold the healthcare reform debate.

Susan Ignagni fears a government-run insurance plan that Obama supports would put private insurers out of business. The plan would achieve Obama's goal of universal health coverage through a regulated insurance market. She works for America's Health Insurance Plans board which consists of chief executives of top insurers. They crafted a plan as an alternative to the universal health coverage favored by Obama. The battle is joined.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 24, 2009
Filed at 1:47 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- If anyone could make or break President Barack Obama's health care agenda, it might be Karen Ignagni.

Ignagni and her board at America's Health Insurance Plans foresaw three years ago that 2009 could be a year that health care would top the agenda, and they decided to craft a plan.

''Whatever AHIP pays her, it's not enough. She's unbelievably effective,'' said Princeton economist Uwe Reinhardt. ''It's just amazing what she's achieved for them against all odds.''

Ignagni is such a formidable advocate that when she went head to head with industry-bashing filmmaker Michael Moore on the Oprah Winfrey show, she emerged not only unscathed, but with Moore seconding some of her points.

The INFLUENCE GAME: Health Lobbyist Has Great Sway

[bluestateguy]

1. Her donor info

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=DC&last=Ignagni&first=Karen

[truedelphi]

4. Thanks for the link. n/t

[sandnsea]

2. Host An Organizing Event June 6

The fight will officially go to the ground on June 6th, with a series of house parties across the country along the lines of the Listening Tours that Organizing For America has hosted for several months.

http://www.obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=240

[babylonsister]

3. Good to know, thanks. nt

[Lint Head]

5. I hold her personally responsible the for death of my niece.

My niece has cancer and is out of work with no healthcare. She has been given a death sentence with a treatable cancer.
:dem: