Overview
In this the “year of health reform,” as dubbed by Governor Schwarzenegger, CALPIRG is working to make our health care system more effective, affordable, accessible and efficient. We’re beginning with a thorough examination of the pharmaceutical and insurance industries.
In a country with a world-renowned medical reputation, we expect drug companies to rigorously test and truthfully market their drugs, but history tells us that this is not always the case.
Recent headlines in California highlight the fact that insurance companies routinely drop customers who get sick or pregnant, and statistics tell us that health insurance rate increases are far outpacing the price of inflation.
Without doubt, the pharmaceutical and insurance industries play an important role in our health care system, but their business practices and lobbying too often prevent California from fulfilling basic expectations of health and safety. CALPIRG works to counter their influence and protect the health of Californians.
