Health Care 

Retailers Are Part of the Health Care Solution

Across America, retailers are pursuing a vision of bringing positive, lasting change to America’s health care system by providing consumers with quality and convenient alternatives and employees with creative and affordable plans that best meet their needs. 

With a workforce of 15 million and daily contact with many millions more customers, retailers know the importance of quality affordable health care in the lives of each and every American. Retailers also understand that health care reform is more than a change in law, but change in perspective.

Quality, affordable health care options that are conveniently available to treat basic health needs are the best way to ease the pressures faced by consumers forced to choose between medications and mortgages. Retailers have sought to ease the burden through innovative programs and services that have already saved Americans billions of dollars in health care costs.  

Our Health Care Principles

RILA’s principles include achievable improvements that would dramatically change the way America treats patients, purchases health care and practices medicine. 

1. Build On What Works
   The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) enables 170 million Americans to participate in and receive health care coverage through an employer. ERISA provides health care providers like RILA’s member companies with a uniform set of rules upon which to design employee health plans that fit the needs of each company’s unique workforce. Without ERISA, a patchwork of state and local mandates that require individual industries to play by different rules will hinder expanded health care coverage in America. 
   
   
2. Expand Incentives for Wellness and Preventative Programs 
   RILA member companies work to promote individual responsibility for well-being and engagement in health care decisions. Incorporating these components into broader-based reform could shift societal thinking about health care delivery from an illness to a wellness model, improve lives and reduce systemic costs.
   
   
3. Preserve Flexibility Needed to Drive Innovation
   From discounted prescription drugs and in-store clinics to creatively designed employee health and wellness programs retailers have excelled in providing quality, affordable and convenient options to both consumers and employees. Innovation such as this should be emboldened not stifled or limited in any way. Private-sector innovation is a critical component of meeting health care needs of America. 
   
   
4. Establish Clinics as Quality Convenient Health Care Assess Point
   In-store and on-site health clinics staffed by highly trained practitioners, provide quality and convenient front-line care. RILA supports federal guidelines that embrace clinics as a primary source of non-emergency patient treatment.