Public Policy Healthcare Issue --

Public Policy Healthcare Issue -- the Influence of Lobbyists

Introduction to the Topic and Factual Background

Healthcare costs are one of the most important concerns in American society today. Currently, they amount to more than $2 trillion annually and at their present rate of growth, will absorb fully forty percent of the national economy before the end of the decade (Reid, 2009). One of the main reasons for this situation is that American healthcare is completely dominated by a for-profit private health insurance industry that accounts for a third of all healthcare costs without performing a single medical service (Kennedy, 2006). To date, there are more than six professional lobbyists for the health insurance industry in Washington for every elected member of Congress. They represent more than 1,500 different private companies whose interest are diametrically opposite to those of badly needed meaningful health care reform to lower the costs of healthcare services (Kennedy, 2006; Reid, 2009).

Issues Raised

The principal issue raised by this situation is the detrimental influence of private industry lobbyists in Washington. It is hardly an issue that is limited to healthcare, because lobbying has evolved into a major industry by virtue of the economic value and advantages attributable to the process of securing favorable legislation by supporting political campaigns of elected officials in Washington, D.C. (Halbert & Ingulli, 2008; Kennedy, 2006). However, in light of the magnitude of the harm to the United States economy posed by rising healthcare costs and (especially) in light of the cost in human lives and welfare, reforming the entire process of political lobbying is essential and it must begin with healthcare (Kennedy, 2006).

Stakeholders and their Influence

The stakeholders in this issue are the American public, the professional healthcare community, and the big business interests that have gained and see to maintain their complete control over U.S. healthcare. They do this by directly influencing the last group of stakeholders through their financial campaign contributions and offers of quid-pro-quo private sector positions in the future after their political careers are over: namely, publicly elected officials (Kennedy, 2006; Reid, 2009). Unfortunately, the influence of the healthcare industry lobbyists is tremendous. One need only look up the publicly available information of how much large healthcare interests contribute to members of the U.S. Congress in any given year to understand why healthcare legislation continues to favor corporations over the members of the American public, almost half of whom cannot afford health insurance (Kennedy, 2006; Reid, 2009).

Challenges, Problems and Next Steps