AOL founder Steve Case says he wants a revolution--in healthcare

[Judi Lynn]

10/17/05
The Case for Healthcare
AOL founder Steve Case says he wants a revolution--in healthcare
By Kim Clark

Admire or revile him, you've got to admit that former AOL Chairman Steve Case has RBI, LOM, and FWC: Really Big Ideas, Lots of Money, and Friends With Clout. So when he says he's going to "revolutionize" American healthcare, it's smart to RWI: Regard With Interest. But given the strategic and accounting troubles that plagued his last years at America Online, the scattershot nature of his new company, and the sheer difficulty of his new goal, maybe that should be Remain Wary Indefinitely.

In a move reminiscent of financier Michael Milken's financial and entrepreneurial assault on prostate cancer, Case says he is pouring his cash and energy into making the nation's health system as easy to navigate and consumer friendly as AOL. Case announced last week that since forming his Revolution Health Group in July, he has spent about $100 million, mostly of his own money, buying all or part of seven private companies that provide healthcare and health information and manage health benefits for employers. And he's planning to spend hundreds of millions more scooping up other health-related ventures and building a new health information website, Revolutionhealth.com. Twenty percent of the money will come from private investors who, Case says, understand it may take more than 10 years to realize a return. But the profit, for now, is secondary. The real goal of all this money and energy, he says, is to "put consumers at the center by improving their choice, control, convenience, and care."

There is no doubting his sincerity. Case's drive comes from having watched his brother deal with doctors and insurers while dying of brain cancer. "It was a confusing maze," Case says.

There's also no doubt that America's health system needs reforming. Healthcare spending now totals $6,000 per person annually, almost double that spent a decade ago. Medical costs, which are expected to keep rising two or three times as fast as inflation, are helping push companies that provide generous insurance, such as General Motors, to the brink of insolvency. And more than 45 million Americans can afford no health insurance at all.
(snip/...)

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/051017/17case.htm

[bluestateguy]

1. Does he provide health care for his employees?

I don't know. Does he? But that should be the first question asked before we examine what he has to say.

[xchrom]

2. hmmm -- we'll see.

[PunkPop]

3. So giving him a monopoly

is going to improve the state of health care in this country?

I think AOL sucks. Why should I trust Steve Case to improve the state of health care?

We need national health insurance - NOW!

[parasim]

6. Well, yeah, AOL sucks...

... to you and me, but the reality is that AOL is still hugely successful and it got a lot of people started with the internet and an awful lot that still use AOL to do so. He's hoping to re-animate the basic dumbed-down usability method AOL uses to make it easier for people to have access to their health care information.

And, IMO, this is a noble venture in and of itself, I just wish it wasn't Case doing it. On the other hand, no harm done, really, I'm sure he'll have plenty of stiff competiton in this arena as other big players in the Ease-of-Use business (Apple, Intuit, Microsoft et al) get into it.

[kweerwolf]

4. Guess Steve-o got tired of "pouring his money" ...

... into groups like the rabidly right-wing and homophobic Coral Ridge Ministries like he was doing a few years ago.

Sorry, Steve-o ... but you lost all your credibility with me over that. You can pour all your money up your own ass now for all I care.

[Rainscents]

5. I don't trust Steve with 10 foot poll!