congress and the health sector

The health insurance industry in our country has been a controversial topic for a long period of time. I feel that the high prices of insurance and the difficulties acquiring it are a direct result of our public officials being at the mercy of major campaign contributors. I would like to point out the shocking numbers on the campaign contributions from the health sector of our country.
During the 2008 election cycle alone, the health sector contributed $163,801,251 to federal candidates and parties. The top five contributors included American Dental Association, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Pfizer Inc, and American Society of Anesthesiologists. (opensecrets.org)
Oddly enough, Arizona is one state that has stepped in the right direction to rid the influence of the private industry in government. They have passed comprehensive campaign finance reform that allows candidates running for office apply for public funds if they agree not to take any private contributions.
On the federal level, legislation has just been introduced in both the house and senate to institute a federal program to apply for public funds to run for US Senate. The legislation is called the Fair Elections Now Act. FENA is co-sponsored by the bi-partisan efforts of Dick Durbin and Arlen Specter.
I suppose the ethical question that I am trying to pose has to deal with public officials accepting private contributions. How can we make sure our public officials are truly representing us when they accept so much money from private companies? Is it ever justified to take these type of contributions? Also, if you take an idealist approach and say that no private contribution is justified, the candidate's viability in an election is diminished and ruins any chance to change the system.