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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Mark Cuban took his healthcare affordability pitch to Texas lawmakers, laying out five policy changes he says could shake up the broken system. His Cost Plus Drugs platform already undercuts insurance prices for many insured patients — and he wants lawmakers to make that the norm, not the exception. From standardized PBM contracts to tougher enforcement, Cuban's proposals aim to inject real price competition into healthcare.
Mark Cuban brought his healthcare affordability agenda to the Texas state House this week, testifying before lawmakers alongside a dozen other experts. The billionaire entrepreneur behind Cost Plus Drugs made a striking point: many of his customers already have insurance — they just find his cash prices cheaper than their own plan's copays. "That tells you something is wrong," he said.
Cuban laid out five concrete policy recommendations for state legislators. He wants patients to be able to shop for the lowest drug price — even outside their health plan — and have those cash purchases count toward deductibles. He also called for standardized PBM and third-party administrator contracts (which he's already drafted as a model template), full pricing transparency for publicly funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid, elimination of gag clauses that prevent plan sponsors from comparing contract terms, and significantly steeper penalties for repeat healthcare violations.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Cuban's proposals target structural inefficiencies that drive up drug costs for millions of Americans — insured or not. If adopted, these reforms could introduce genuine price competition into a market long dominated by opaque contracts and misaligned incentives.
