Most Americans want regulation of healthcare industry

A Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive poll finds that a majority of Americans want regulation of key industries, particularly those involved in the healthcare field. Americans want tougher regulation of the pharmaceutical (51 percent) and insurance sectors (46 percent). However, despite higher insurance premiums, the appetite for regulation appears diminished. Most Americans seem to think hospitals are doing fairly well on their own, with only 28 percent favoring regulation.

The poll results also give an idea of how serious the image problem is for the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. Only 8 percent of respondents said they feel drug companies are "generally honest and trustworthy." An even lower number (4 percent) said they trust what they hear from managed care companies. Hospitals again come out on top, with 34 percent saying they generally trust them.

- see this article from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)

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