Congressman Murphy and other congressmen/women are seeking to revise the healthcare legislation signed into law last year. The congressman believes what I fear: that the individuals and businesses in our country will be fighting healthcare costs that will escalate more aggressively than ever before.

A couple of the legislative changes that Congressman Murphy is supporting include allowing individuals and businesses to purchase healthcare coverage across state lines and to allow businesses and individuals to pool their buying power, both of which can reduce rates and increase the quality of healthcare available. With the forthcoming upward pressure on healthcare costs and new markets potentially opening up, this is no time for spend management novices (like HR departments) to be driving the procurement bus.

If there ever was a time for procurement departments to be responsible for the healthcare category, it is now.

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