Majority of Americans believe that "side deals" are harming real healthcare reform

Sep 16 2009

78 percent of Americans see pharmaceutical industry deals as harmful

The Greenlining Institute (www.greenlining.org) today reacted to a survey conducted by the Lombardo Consulting Group which shows that Americans are losing confidence in the health care reform process (available here.) The national poll found that an overwhelming number of poll respondents believe that "side deals" between Washington decision makers and the pharmaceutical industry have "seriously compromised efforts to enact real reform of the health care system."

The poll, conducted during the last week of August, showed that nearly 8 out of 10 registered voters, 78 percent, believe that the role pharmaceutical companies and other special interest groups have played in the reform debate thus far has seriously compromised the process and potential outcomes of the reform effort.

"In last week's address to Congress and the nation, President Obama made clear that real health care reform should not be at the mercy of special interests," said Hector Javier Preciado, Health Policy Director for The Greenlining Institute. "It is critical that those in Washington work first and foremost to ensure expanded access to affordable medicine and health care for all without driving up costs or bowing to special interest groups. True reform cannot be accomplished if Washington is not on the side of the American public."

The survey also revealed that the overwhelming majority of respondents, 63 percent, believe that taking control of the rising cost of healthcare in the United States should be the most important goal of reform. Further, 54 percent of respondents believe that reform should focus first on controlling costs for individual patients while 37 percent believe the focus should be on controlling the cost of government programs paid for by taxpayers.

Preciado concluded, in order to revive public confidence, Washington must take a stand for what Americans want out of reform. "With members of Congress back in Washington to tackle health care reform, it is imperative that our representatives not only understand what Americans are asking for but then take the initiative to implement it."