Michael Moore wants to reform health care

It would help if the movie is a big seller, of course. Moore's previous flick, the 2004 film Fahrenheit 9/11, grossed more than $119 million. "When you have a hit movie, people all want to come to your cause," recalls Erin Brockovich, whose environmental crusade against Pacific Gas & Electric was chronicled in a 2000 film starring Julia Roberts as Brockovich. After the film, Brockovich says she was asked by several senators to work on environmental issues.

It's that kind of notoriety that already has many in the health-care industry readying their responses to Moore's film—even before any of them have seen it. "Where there are issues raised by factual inaccuracies, obviously our member companies and we will point them out," says Mohit Ghose, a spokesman for American's Health Insurance Plans, whose members include Humana, Cigna, and Aetna. Ghose says his group instead wants to advance "a positive agenda" that will provide universal health care "but also maintain and preserve the affordability of that access and coverage."

Premature backlash
Still, there is mounting concern among the health-care crew. The pharmaceutical industry received reports from Cannes, according to Ken Johnson, senior vice-president of the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), who says a friend called him from France after seeing the flick. PhRMA, whose membership includes Amgen, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson, issued a statement that chastises Moore's "latest escapades" as "finding new ways to advance his political agenda." Instead, the drug company group says, "a review of America's health-care system should be balanced, thoughtful, and well-researched to pin down what works and what needs to be improved. You won't get that from Michael Moore."

That's a lot of venom for a movie that has yet to hit the theaters. But then again, Michael Moore seems to inspire strong feelings — love him or hate him. And he sure knows how to get publicity: He's already being investigated by the Treasury Dept. for allegedly violating trade sanction rules by bringing 9/11 rescue workers to Cuba — where they supposedly got better medical care than they were receiving in New York-area hospitals.

"In his previous movies, Michael discovered and conveyed little-known information in an engaging and compelling manner," says Harvey Weinstein, whose Weinstein Co. is distributing the film. "With Sicko, he uses powerful images and tells fascinating real-life stories to drive change." Weinstein says that after the companies learned "what they are up against, [they] hired PR firms and have their arsenal of lobbyists chomping at the bit to work elected officials."

No one loves a little controversy more than a filmmaker with a hot new film to promote. Michael Moore's got that, to be sure. Maybe, just maybe, the film can do some good at the same time it does well.

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