40 of the Most Powerful People in Health Care

Since passing the Accountable Care Act in 2010, health care has become a major sticking point in the minds of millions of Americans. With the changes that have already been implemented and the upcoming changes expected in 2013, more attention is being placed on health care and who is instrumental in its successes and failures.

On January 5,

author Rachel Fields posted a list, “

.”

Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine40 of the Most Powerful People in Healthcare

Here are some of selected individuals:

Mark T. Bertolini, Chairman, CEO, and President, Aetna

Bertolini recently described his company as "an evolving technology services company with a big insurance vehicle" in an interview with Healthcare IT News. Aetna has been investing in research and development in the last decade, and its recent $6 billion health IT acquisitions and development of new applications are part of a strategy simplify system use. Aetna has made headlines lately because of disputes between the insurer and hospital chain HCA, which has pushed for rates that Aetna says are "significantly higher than other area hospitals," according to a Palm Beach Post report. About 36,000 Aetna clients hang in the balance between HCA's East Florida affiliate and Aetna in the negotiation.

Donald Berwick, MD, Administer, CMS

Dr. Berwick strongly believes in the need to redistribute health care resources from the rich to the poor and has been criticized for his favorable statements about the British health care system. Dr. Berwick has been quoted as saying that "sick people tend to be poorer and … poor people tend to be sicker and … any healthcare funding program that is just, equitable, civilized and humane must, must redistribute wealth from the richer among us to the poorer and less fortunate."

Read the rest of this post on HCPLive's sister site, Physician's Money Digest.