Why Fats Joe advocates for hospital worth transparency : NPR


Rapper Fat Joe arrives at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Feb. 13.

Fats Joe arrives on the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Feb. 13. The Bronx-born rapper sat with NPR’s A Martínez to debate how he advocates for worth transparency and what he desires politicians in D.C. to do about it.

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Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Rapper Fats Joe says, “Thousands and thousands of individuals are getting robbed.”

In a public service announcement by Energy to the Sufferers, he provides that it is “not by the fellows you may assume. However by hospital and insurance coverage firm executives. They crooks.”

That is why the Bronx-born rapper is urging officers in Washington, D.C., for worth transparency in well being care.

In 2021, an government order issued by then-President Trump went into impact, requiring hospitals to make the costs of well being companies public. President Biden later signed an government order instructing the Division of Well being and Human Companies to implement it.

However a 2023 report by the nonprofit Affected person Rights Advocate discovered that almost all hospitals are usually not complying with these guidelines.

Fats Joe informed Morning Version‘s A Martínez that he has a message to politicians: “Occasions up. … It is time that you simply do precisely what you been voted to do: is go a regulation that may truly assist the American households, give them wonderful high quality in well being care in addition to the perfect worth.”

This interview has been edited for size and readability. You possibly can hear this dialog utilizing the audio participant on the high of the web page.

A Martínez: So inform us, why ought to hospitals be required to place costs for companies someplace public the place individuals can see them?

Fats Joe: Effectively, there is a rule now. Donald Trump put [it] into place as a matter of truth. Nevertheless it’s not being enforced. The explanation why pricing is so necessary is as a result of the rest we do on the planet comes with a worth. And we all know precisely what it’s. What’s the thriller of the hospitals that they cannot let you know the value of a process? You possibly can take a look at the three main hospitals in your space — the discrepancy is unbelievable. Any person goes to have an MRI for $1,200. Somebody’s going to have it for $8,800. Somebody’s going to have it for $40,000. So that you get to decide on what hospital you wish to go to to have the process performed.

Martínez: So the laws that you simply wish to see handed would make well being care suppliers present that worth for the totally different procedures. It would not essentially do something to offer energy to sufferers to assist decrease costs. Does it go far sufficient?

Fats Joe: It is going to, as a result of now that they current the value, it should create a contest.

Martínez: You attended President Biden’s State of the Union handle in March. What do you wish to see from him in relation to worth transparency in well being care?

Fats Joe: I wish to see all of them go the regulation that Sen. Mike Braun, who’s a Republican, and Bernie Sanders, who’s an impartial Democrat, are placing forth. And in relation to the president, I would like him to be proactive about it. He does loads for the individuals, however I feel he must be extra engaged with this.

Martínez: How a lot of a distinction do you assume it might make if former President Trump wins in November?

Fats Joe: You realize, we reside in a democracy, so each 4 years, something may change. So if Donald Trump turns into president, then we gotta take care of him to get it performed. This ain’t about Republican, this is not about Democrat — that is in regards to the individuals. And so after I went to the president’s handle, I snuck into the Republican dinner that they had with the speaker of the Home, Mike Johnson. I walked up in there, and he circled and mentioned, “Oh my God, Fats Joe, you are giving me road cred.” And I used to be like, “What’s up, man?” And we took some footage. Talked to all of the Republicans in there. After which I went to the Democrat aspect and met with Hakeem Jeffries and everyone else. And so while you’re making an attempt to get a regulation handed, while you’re making an attempt to get progress for the individuals, you gotta have the ability to take care of the Democrats and the Republicans.

Martínez: You’ve got been doing this for a couple of years now. Do you are feeling such as you’re making progress? 

Fats Joe: Completely. I stroll within the airport — which now, , it is just about the one place I see human beings now, simply common human beings. As a result of, , I am just a little bit well-known as of late. And other people come as much as me and hug me at 4 within the morning, 6 within the morning. They are saying, “Thanks for what you are doing for the well being care. Thanks, Joe. That is an important factor you’ve got ever performed. Positive. Your music. We love your performing. That is an important factor you are doing for the individuals.” I imply, if that ain’t gratifying, I do not know what’s.

The digital model of this story was edited by Treye Inexperienced and Obed Manuel.

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