HMO bashing for fun and profit: Three doctors turn making light of managed care into a market

A few physicians are proving you can make mirth -- and money -- out of misery by lampooning HMOs. These physicians require no referral and only a small co-pay for their services.

By Cheryl Jackson, AMNews staff. Dec. 17, 2001.

Might the road to riches be paved with HMOs? Not likely. At least not for doctors.

But while many physicians blame managed care for losses of income and an increase in practice restrictions, some are poking fun at HMOs in hopes of putting a smile on their colleagues' faces and perhaps a little jingle in their own pockets.

Their mission: Target managed care, with a touch of humor.

Those low fee schedules, that red tape and those denials from HMOs might be grating on the nerves of physicians, but the topic can be music to the ears of Sam Bierstock, MD.

He went way against the grain by striking up the band for managed care -- sort of.

The Delray Beach, Fla., harmonicologist, as he calls himself (he's really an ophthalmologist), formed Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Blues Band. It's not just a band, it's a "Multispecialty Integrated Musical Delivery System," as Dr. Sam puts it on his Web site (http://www.managedmusic.com/).

He speaks and plays at conventions, mostly medical.

And he's released two CDs, one actually a supplement to the first. By mail, the CDs are free, with a $14.95 co-payment.

His song selection is a mixture of parodies and original music. The lyrics are satirical.

Song titles include "You Picked a Fine Time to Leave Me Blue Shield," "You're One-Hip Mama ('Cause They Won't Pay for Two)" and "Sorry Man But Your Bypass Is Considered Cosmetic."

"I started doing this as a way to make a political statement," said Dr. Sam, who began performing the lampoons in 1996. "We make it a point to keep everything very light and humorous. Not heavy." [...]