Instead of complaining about managed care, Dr. Sam Bierstock of Boca Raton, Fla., and his Managed Care Blues Band decided to sing about it. Humorous tunes like "You Picked a Fine Time to Leave Me Blue Shield," and "You're a One Hip Mama Cause They Won't Pay for Two" are entertaining audiences at industry events throughout the country.
Dr. Bierstock, 50, refers to his hysterical tunes as "managed music," and is spreading his managed care blues in a national tour. Quick to clarify his music doesn't bash HMOs, the doc-turned-blueser says, "It's a wonderful way to educate people about a system so few of them understand."
So far, medical associations, corporations and professional groups are booking the band for conferences, seminars and annual meetings. Glaxco Wellcome, Abbott Laboratories and Hewlett Packard have already booked his musical musings through November and other companies are planning as far ahead as next summer.
Dr. Bierstock says his managed care music is a full-time project, and receives numerous inquiries on his Web site (http://www.managedmusic.com). He is the licensee of the name "The Managed Care Blues Band" and term "managed music." (Barnett Price Herrod Communications, 561/483-0828)