HHS Secretary Writes State Regulators

May 6, 2010

Urges them to scrutinize WellPoint rate increases

After WellPoint withdrew their recent 39 percent rate increase request for individual policies in California, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has written to state regulators urging them to scrutinize any rate increase requests prior to taking effect. In response, the Connecticut Attorney General and state Healthcare Advocate have written to Governor M. Jodi Rell asking for an independent audit of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut.

Sebelius went on to say: " Not only will funding be available to states that have and exercise such authority, but, more importantly, such authority and its exercise will enable state insurance departments to better protect consumers."

Other articles of interest in the May 6, 2010 NAHU Newswire include:

• Leahy Again Attempting to Repeal Federal Antitrust Exemption For Health Insurers
• House Panel to Review Three Bills Targeting Transparency, Clarity in Healthcare Pricing
• Not-For-Profit Healthcare Providers Not Doing Enough To Publicize Charity-Care Policies

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