BILLY TAUZIN
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
Date of Birth: June 14, 1943.
Education: B.A., Nicholls State University; J.D., Louisiana State University.
Career Path: Tauzin represented Southern Louisiana in Congress for 25 years, first as a Democrat and later as a Republican. He helped get Medicare prescription drug benefit legislation passed. After battling cancer, he decided not to run for office again and in 2005 became head of PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry’s lobbying group.
Role in Health Care Reform, 1993-1994: Tauzin, still a Democrat, did not support President Clinton’s legislation.
Why He’s a Player Now: Tauzin heads one of the most influential health industry groups, which supports expanded eligibility for Medicaid, subsidies for moderate-income people to buy insurance in a reformed marketplace and a cap on individual out-of-pocket expenditures.
Quote: “When all Americans have good health insurance coverage that especially covers the medicines that can prevent and/or manage the diseases that otherwise cost us so much in damage control and lost productivity, we’ll be a healthier and wealthier society.” (April 4, 2009, the group’s annual meeting in San Antonio)
Read about the other ‘Players‘.
