Editorial Activism or Sponsored Censorship at “thehealthcareblog?”

A curious and somewhat surprising experience in the last 48 hours with respect to posting on the health care blog (THCB), a site I frequent and occasionally comment; which I have come to respect as an authoritative source in the healthcare blogosphere.

Recently a piece was featured by none other than the infamous Rick Scott of Columbia Health Group/HCA fame; who now presides over a political advocacy group dubbed “Conservatives for Patients Rights” (CPR).

CPR features the re-emergence of Mr. Scott who previously served as the principal architect of the aggressive hospital acquisition and management strategy practiced by Columbia Healthgroup and later ColumbiaHCA, which defrauded the government of many millions of dollars based in part on “aggressive cost reporting” and other chicanery including kickbacks and stealing patients. A practice he later rationalized suggesting that fines where merely a cost of doing business (and everybody does it anyway – I paraphrase).

Matt Holt has generally permited a full airing of all points of view on many issues, even those with a tad of controversy; and I have never had a post deleted from THCB; that is until Monday.

A rather benign point of fact, coupled with a sprinkle of judgment about Florida law, and it’s sanctioning of lay corporation’s to own, operate and hire physicians, was cited as an opportunity to permit certain less than patient care driven (ie, “shady”) health care enterprises. One example of a less than “poster child” urgent care center operator was referenced.

Perhaps my earlier assertion may have displeased someone (Matt, Solantic, Mr. Scott or even “Cato”?), ie, that Scott could go anywhere near the boardroom of a healthcare concern, or be featured as the poster child delivering a pro-competition and consumer advocacy message (with a straight face) was an unfortunate fact of American life today. I believe my exact words where it strains credulity…and that perhaps that could only happen in the “united states of Amnesia”.

So, an interesting turn of events. My informal sleuthing on the subject reveals a comment count of 58; yet the THCB only prints 47. So something is up? What gives Matt?

Two @boltyboy replies, Matt’s twitter handle, were both met with silence; or perhaps indifference, not sure how to read.