Overview
Health care costs are increasing five times faster than the rate of inflation. As a result, the uninsured and underinsured can't afford the care they need; employers keep pushing more of the costs on to their employees; and taxpayer-funded government programs like Medicare and Medicaid are taking a financial hit.
Unfortunately, powerful interests stand in the way of reform. Insurance companies are pushing for legislation that allows them to offer less and less coverage for more and more money. Pharmaceutical companies are fighting back against policies that encourage bulk purchasing and other market mechanisms for lowering the cost of medicine.
We know that not all health care reforms are created equal. We oppose policies that allow insurers to pick and cover only the healthiest patients while ignoring the rest. We support policies that make the insurance industry offer meaningful policies with fair premiums and policies that pool people together to share risk and responsibility.
In a country renowned for its medical innovation and expertise, we expect drug companies to rigorously test and truthfully market their drugs. We expect that Americans have the means to treat illnesses, and hospitals will put our health and safety over all other concerns.
But prescription drug prices are soaring, the Vioxx tragedy demonstrates that drugs are not always safe, and infections at hospitals kill too many patients. Health insurance plans too often fail to provide the coverage or treatments we need.
As the debate progresses, TexPIRG will continue working to make sure that cutting costs doesn't lead to cutting corners for Texans’ health and to guarantee that all Texans have access to high quality, affordable health care. We hope to build on our past health care reform successes.
TexPIRG’s involvement with health care reform starts in the 1970s, when we worked with Rep. Mickey Leland to successfully bring cheaper generic drugs to Texas consumers. More recently we have fought against capping non-economic damages in medical malpractice and helped pass legislation to allow Texans to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada.
Too often, it is powerful special interests that are keeping our country from fulfilling our expectations of health and safety. TexPIRG works to counter their influence and protect the health of all Americans.
