FAT JOE, RICK ROSS, CHUCK D AND MORE TEAM WITH POWER TO THE PATIENTS FOR PSA ON HONEST & TRANSPARENT HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

A powerhouse lineup of hip-hop legends, including Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, Method Man, French Montana, and Chuck D, has teamed up with Power to the Patients to release a compelling public service announcement (PSA). Their collective voices demand transparency in the healthcare system, urging elected officials to create an equitable, affordable, and honest healthcare framework nationwide.

As Congress prepares to vote on healthcare transparency bills in Washington, D.C., these iconic artists advocate for more robust price transparency laws. They call for hospitals and insurance companies to publish actual prices for their services and procedures, a move that aims to rectify these institutions’ disregard for existing federal transparency rules.

The PSA highlights the prevalent practice of hospitals and insurers providing only “estimates” or “average prices,” which the hip-hop icons argue stifles competition and results in overcharges, debt, fear, and devastation for countless Americans. Chuck D, frontman of Public Enemy, describes the situation as “an American humanitarian crisis.”

This collective advocacy follows the persistent efforts of Power to the Patients and Grammy-nominated artist and philanthropist Fat Joe, who have engaged with lawmakers, visited The White House, and rallied on Capitol Hill. They aim to express frustration with the healthcare system and champion the rights of patients, families, communities, employees, employers, and unions nationwide.

Earlier this year, Fat Joe and Power To The Patients joined forces with New York City Council Members and various union groups, leading to Mayor Eric Adams signing the Healthcare Accountability and Consumer Protection Act in June 2023. This groundbreaking legislation established the nation’s first Office of Health Care Accountability, enabling New Yorkers to compare hospital costs for identical services.

As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, these artists confront a rigged healthcare system. They emphasize that hospitals often coerce patients into signing service contracts without revealing actual prices, resulting in widespread fear that deters millions from seeking necessary medical care, jeopardizing their health and lives.

Medical debt remains the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in America, and a recent study by Patient Rights Advocate revealed that only 36% of U.S. hospitals comply with the current Federal Price Transparency Rule.