Washington, D.C.: Health Reform Could Mean Jobs, Economic Growth

Executive Summary

WASHINGTON, June 9 - Health care reform means more than health care - it could mean more jobs and stronger economic growth here across America.

As the health reform debate heats up in Washington, new research suggests that health reform could have real impact closer to home. 

A U.S. Public Interest Research Group Research Brief, entitled Putting America Back to Work, finds that proposals to tame health care costs could allow the creation of 2.5 million jobs over a five year period  without inflationary effects, and yield stronger economic growth over the long term.

These findings come as Capitol Hill awaits the introduction of Senator Ted Kennedy's (D-Massachusetts) landmark health reform bill.  The research estimates state-level impact of health reform on jobs and the economy for each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia, including:

•    The number of jobs over the next five years that could be generated, with no inflationary effect

•    The additional economic activity that could be generated. 
The estimates are derived from the recent national report, The Economic Case for Heatlh Reform, prepared by the White House Council of Economic Advisors.

According to Larry McNeely, U.S Public Interest Research Group's Health Care Advocate, "This research sends a simple message to those in Washington who are more concerned about partisan politics than getting things done:  Stop playing politics with health reform."

"The forthcoming Kennedy bill is a serious effort to check the private insurance industry and rein in the explosive growth of American's health premiums." Says McNeely, "In the
current economy, it couldn't come a moment too soon."

MoPIRG, along with our federal coalition USPIRG, stands up to powerful special interests on behalf of the public, working to win concrete results for our health and our well-being. With a strong network of researchers, advocates, organizers and students, we take on the special interests on issues, such as product safety, political corruption, prescription drugs and voting rights, where these interests stand in the way of reform and progress.

To download the full report, please click on the icon below