The COVID-19 relief package deal released last night includes a provision that would end the practice of "surprise billings" from medical providers. Those surprise bills show up when a patient goes to a hospital or ER which is in network, but some of the individual providers contracted by the hospital (ER physicians, anesthesiologists, etc.) are not in the patient's insurance network. Despite wide public support for ending the practice, many legislators face intense lobbying from physicians and private equity firms that own many practices that profit from the status quo. Finally, it looks like the COVID-19 relief bill is the vehicle that will get this done.
In reading up on this, I ran across an article in New York Magazine that listed 7 public policy ideas that, according to polling have broad support across America. A few of these are particularly progressive ideas, and end up getting shouted down in the right-wing echo chamber. Others are a bit more obscure, but important, and don't get a fair hearing either because of their obscurity or because of the kind of lobbying pressure that blocked ending surprise medical billing.
Here's the article's list:
- Legalize marijuana use
- Workers' representation on corporate boards
- Cap on credit card interest/fees and on other similar loans (title loans, payday loans, etc.)
- Government officials shouldn’t be allowed to own stocks or become lobbyists right after leaving office
- The government should directly finance the development of new drugs, and then allow the breakthrough pharmaceuticals to be sold cheaply without a patent
- 12 weeks of paid family/medical leave for childbirth or serious illness/injury
- Some sort of Green New Deal
I would add a few more:
- Universal background checks for all firearms sales/transfers
- Comprehensive immigration reform, including path to legal status for many, worker permits, etc.
- Comprehensive income tax simplification, including eliminating distinctions on the types of income
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