Putting America Back to Work

2009-06-10

Executive Summary

TALLAHASSEE - National Health care reform means more than health care - it could mean more jobs and stronger economic growth here in Florida.

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

The Florida Public Interest Research Group Brief, entitled Health Reform and the Economy, finds that proposals to tame health care costs could allow the creation of 113,660 Florida jobs over a five year period without inflationary effects, and yield stronger economic growth over the long term.

According to Brad Ashwell Florida PIRG’s consumer health 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."

These findings come with the release of Senator Ted Kennedy's (D-Massachusetts) landmark health reform bill on Capital Hill.  

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 in Florida, with no inflationary effect, is estimated to be 116,660.

·The additional economic activity that could be generated. Florida could see an increase in gross state product of $88,660,420 by 2030.

The estimates are derived from the recent national report, The Economic Case for Heatlh Reform, prepared by the White House Council of Economic Advisors.

"The Kennedy bill is a serious effort to check the private insurance industry and rein in the explosive growth of American's health premiums," says Larry McNeely, Florida PIRG's Federal Health Care Advocate. "In the current economy, it couldn't come a moment too soon."

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Florida PIRG 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.