Health care costs are something nearly every family in Lubbock has felt—at the pharmacy counter, at the doctor’s office, or when an insurance bill shows up in the mail. This week, that issue took center stage in Washington, led by the congressman who represents much of West Texas.
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Lubbock’s Congressman Leads Health Care Cost Hearing
U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, who represents Texas’ 19th Congressional District, which includes Lubbock, hosted a House Budget Committee hearing titled “Reverse the Curse: Skyrocketing Health Care Costs and America’s Fiscal Future.” The hearing focused on the growing cost of health care and how it impacts both American families and the federal budget.
Arrington opened the hearing by noting that rising health care costs are one area where Democrats and Republicans often agree on the problem—even if they disagree on solutions.
Health Care’s Growing Share of the Economy
According to Arrington, health care spending now accounts for nearly one-fifth of the entire U.S. economy, totaling almost $6 trillion. Roughly half of that spending comes from the federal government.
He pointed out how dramatically things have changed over the decades. In the 1980s, health care spending was about 70% private and 30% government-funded. Today, it’s closer to a 50/50 split. Excluding interest payments, about one-third of the federal budget now goes toward health care…