The time for healthcare transparency has finally arrived. The American people elected President Donald Trump for a second time, and now he can finish what he started.
President Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Dr. Mehmet Oz’s leadership can breathe new life into our healthcare system by fighting for transparency, a virtue that has surely been lacking in it. They will give power back to patients and challenge the dogmas of our healthcare system, which is dominated by corporate interests and bureaucratic red tape.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long advocated for healthcare reform, but his push for price transparency represents one of his most critical battles. Under the current system, healthcare pricing is notoriously opaque. From hospital bills to prescription costs, the average American has little idea of what they’re actually paying for until they get hit with a surprise bill. RFK Jr. has made it clear that this system is broken and that it’s time for a change.
Price transparency in healthcare will allow Americans to shop around for services, compare prices, and make informed choices about where and how they get treated. It will force hospitals and insurance companies to compete based on price, which is a win for everyone. In a world where most goods, from cars to groceries, are transparent, healthcare should be no different.
The Trump administration must also keep Americans informed with clear, accessible information about their health. One area where transparency is sorely needed is in the realm of medication information. For example, the Biden administration introduced a proposed regulation to push printed Patient Medication Information (PMI) – the instruction leaflets patients need to take their medications safely – to a digital-only format. In addition, the Obama administration proposed a regulation to allow pharmaceutical manufacturers to utilize digital labeling in lieu of FDA required printed Prescribing Information (PI). This is all in the name of sustainability, not patient safety.
The push for digital-only PMI and PI is a grave mistake. It leaves too many people, especially the elderly, rural residents, orthodox religious communities, and those without reliable internet access, at a severe disadvantage. Printed medication guides are immediate, accessible, and reliable. Without printed information, many communities would fall victim to medication nonadherence, which already kills 125,000 Americans annually. Through RFK Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, Trump could lead the way by rescinding both the digital PMI and PI regulations and protecting transparent printed resources for vulnerable patient populations.
As head of CMS, Dr. Mehmet Oz can also contribute to the cause. He has consistently been a voice of reason, calling out the healthcare establishment for its lack of transparency, particularly when it comes to drug prices. Oz can lower drug prices and promote transparency through Medicare drug price negotiations. Right now, Big Pharma controls the pricing of life-saving medications, and too many seniors are paying the price. Dr. Oz can make a difference in a market without much competition or transparency. He’s already planned on it.
RFK Jr., Trump, and Dr. Oz all recognize the same truth: Americans deserve a healthcare system that is transparent, accessible, and fair. They know that a system built on secrecy and complexity only serves the interests of insurance companies, Big Pharma, and bureaucrats. It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s time to give patients the tools they need to make informed decisions about their health.
We need leaders like RFK Jr., Dr. Oz, and Trump to continue pushing for transparency in every corner of the healthcare system. It’s time to stand up to the bureaucratic giants that put profits ahead of patients and demand a system that works for the American people.
