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C A L I F O R N I A N U R S E J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 6 5 Judge Strikes Down Fake News Videos A Sacramento court in December ordered the Schwarzenegger administration to stop using and producing video news re- leases supporting controversial government actions, such as the roll back of ratio regula- tions or meal and break rules for workers. The releases, known as VNRs, were sometimes pre- sented by television stations as independently- gathered news without disclosing that the material was produced by the government (see "Ratios, Lies, and Videotape" in the April 2005 California Nurse). The decision was a result of a March lawsuit filed by CNA, the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, and SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West. The judge ruled that it was illegal for the administration to use public funds without the Legisla- ture's permission to produce what essentially amounted to propaganda. Public oversight, or regulation, re- putedly reduces profit and harms the public interest. But, the most regulated state, Maryland, for the second year in a row, had the lowest average hospital charges while the number of Maryland hospitals making profits is right at the national average. The report also documents the soar- ing wealth in the healthcare industry— from pharmaceuticals to HMOs to hospitals—even as the number of unin- sured Americans reaches record levels and more concerns are raised about healthcare costs, quality, and choice. Findings include: Drug companies: The world's 13 largest alone recorded $62 billion in profits in 2004. HMOs: The 20 largest in the U.S. made $10.8 billion in profits in the most recent fiscal year. Hospitals: Aggregate profits for U.S. hospitals reached a record $26.3 bil- lion in 2004—and profits have risen substantially the past few years even as the number of hospitals and hospital beds has been shrinking. Executive compensation: Twelve top HMO executives pocketed $222.6 million in direct compensation in the most recent fiscal year. The top 12 drug company executives collected $192.7 million for the same period. Mergers: $1.15 trillion has been consumed by pharmaceutical, hospi- tal, HMO, medical device and biotech corporate mergers and acquisitions in the past 12 years. "These numbers should be a wake- up call to the American public," said CNA President Deborah Burger, RN. "At a time when nearly 46 million Americans have no health coverage, medical bills cause half of all bank- ruptcies, and insecurity characterizes how tens of millions of others view the health safety net for their families, we have a national scandal. "Wall Street promised Americans that market domination of healthcare would produce improved quality, increased ac- cess, lower costs, and expanded choice. It has failed spectacularly on all counts," said Burger. "Only fundamental change, a universal system based on a single stan- dard of care for all, will end this vicious spiral and produce a humane system that works for Americans." —Staff report World's Top 13 Pharma Corporations Profits, 2004 Source: IHSP calculations of SEC data. In RNs We Trust 82 percent of respondents to an annual Gallup Poll survey ranked regis- tered nurses as having very high or high ethical standards, making RNs by far the most trusted profession for the fourth year in a row. We rock!