FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Nicole Reigelman House Democratic Communications Office Phone: 717-787-7895 Fax: 717-783-6839 Email: nreigelm@pahouse.net	State Rep. Mark Cohen D-Philadelphia www.pahouse.com/cohen
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Cohen introduces bill package to prevent abuses in health insurance

HARRISBURG, Feb. 22 – State Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Phila., has introduced a package of bills that would address health insurance abuses by insurance companies.

Cohen’s first bill (H.B. 509) would ban companies from requiring customers to use mail-order prescriptions and would prohibit companies from establishing penalties for people refusing to switch to mail-order prescriptions.

The second bill (H.B. 510) would prohibit unfair discrimination in reimbursement rates.

The third bill (H.B. 511) would prohibit companies from discriminating on the basis of an insured person’s gender.

Cohen said the final piece of legislation (H.B. 512) combines all the elements of the other three bills.

“Lawmakers have a responsibility to establish protections for consumers against potential abuses by insurance companies,” Cohen said. “Our constituents have a right to know they will not be discriminated against when it comes to health care and that they will not be forced to use drugs from a source they are not interested in using.”

Cohen said his bills would protect consumers from big health insurance companies.

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