My doctor used to be in a family practice owned by doctors. Then, I’m not sure how, the practice became part of UNC Health Care. It was like they told my doctor, You have to see a patient every twenty minutes. Now, wham, bam, thank you ma’am – you’re in and out.

I told a lobbyist that story. He laughed.

“You’re going to love a bill in the State Senate.”

UNC Health Care’s basically a conglomerate. Run by the state. Subsidized by taxpayers. Directly and indirectly, politicians in the state legislature pick its board of directors. Senate Bill 743 exempts it from antitrust laws, gives it more power to make deals, merge with other hospitals, and become a super-conglomerate.

A super-conglomerate health care monopoly: Will care become better? Cost more? Mean fewer choices?

Wait a minute, you say, Republicans run the State Senate. Republicans wouldn’t do that – they’re against government run health care, don’t like monopolies, and wouldn’t subsidize one with tax money.

Well, the bill, introduced by two Republican Senators, is moving quietly through Senate backrooms. It hasn’t gotten much attention. There hasn’t been a word about it in the press. But it’s no small thing. It ought to get attention – a lot of attention.