|
LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. John Yudichak |
  
|
TO: Editor
FROM: State Rep. John Yudichak, D-Luzerne
RE: Consumer Advocate for Health Insurance
I am writing in response to your Oct. 15 editorial urging me to re-introduce legislation that would establish a state office to champion the rights of consumers in health-care matters.
My bill, H.B. 1121, would have helped to protect consumers’ access to adequate and affordable health insurance by establishing a state Office of Consumer Advocate for Health Insurance in Pennsylvania as an independent organization within the Office of Attorney General.
The Office of Consumer Advocate for Health Insurance would have the authority to represent consumers’ interests on any health insurance matter before the state Department of Insurance or any other state agency or court. It would respond to consumer complaints and recommend consumer protections.
The need for such an agency has been demonstrated time and again. Increases in health-care premiums have outpaced the average Pennsylvanian's wages for the last eight years, and health insurance companies have raised rates or cut benefits without warning.
House Bill 1121 passed the House Insurance Committee with the support of Chairman Tony DeLuca and was also supported by the Rendell administration. Although it did not make it to the full House for a vote this legislative session, rest assured that I plan to re-introduce the bill when the new session begins in January. I will continue the fight to establish an agency that will protect the rights of consumers and demand accountability from the health-care insurance industry.
###
|
CONTACT: Victoria L.
Stanish
|