A Fairy Tale By Molly Mulebriar
Once upon a time there was turmoil in serfdom. The serfs were restless but no one cared.
Then one day a spark ignited, a smoldering whiff of smoke appeared. The wind slowly picked up and the fire spread.
It was the rise of Reference Based Pricing (RBP), a product of a silent rebellion starting in the early 2000’s. Early adopters were few in number, no different than most rebellions throughout history wherein a few fearless leaders galvanize the masses and over time win them over to their side.
As the revolution matured and status quo actors diminished in strength a second revolution began to unfold led by a radical wing of the Reference Based Pricing Revolutionary Council.
“Reference Based Pricing is only a transitory phenomenon! On to the next stage of the revolution!” shouted the guardians of the revolution. “We must employ the nuclear option to finish off the medical industrial infidels and their lackeys!”
Realizing Reference Based Pricing was based on reason, logic and common sense but lacking struggleless instant gratification towards victory, the Fathers Of Innovation, a sect of the radical wing of the Reference Based Pricing Revolutionary Council, introduced battlefield ready cash cannons. “Fire at will and target every hospital within sight. They will be unable to resist our call for surrender!” yelled the dentured fellow on the white horse.
Armament experts agree Cash Belching Cannons pack a more powerful punch than unreliable Managed Care Mortars. “You get more bang for the buck than with old line armaments like MC Mortars and BUCA manufactured hand grenades” said a spokesman for Fathers of Innovation.
A blitzkrieg ensued, Within a blink of an eye hospitals across the fruited plains surrendered, opening their castle doors to former Reference Based Pricing warriors. “Come in fair soldiers ,welcome! We are brothers at long last. May peace forever be with us!”
And they lived happily ever after………………..
