NEW CONSUMER PROTECTION WILL HELP FAMILIES GET MORE FOR THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS
November 22, 2010

"The new medical loss ratio standard will help consumers get better value for their health insurance -- ensuring that at least 80 cents of every patients' premium dollar is spent on medical care.  This important consumer protection is another example of how health reform will help consumers even before full implementation of the law in 2014."

STUDY: PREVENTABLE HOSPITAL ERRORS HURT MEDICARE PATIENTS, COST BILLIONS
November 16, 2010

"Preventable errors hurt patients and cost Medicare billions.  Congress has taken action to help fix this problem, including an historic investment in health IT and new incentive payments through Medicare for hospitals to reduce the number of preventable readmissions."

INSURERS REPORT $9.3 BILLION IN PROFITS SO FAR THIS YEAR; STARK ASKS THEM TO LOWER PREMIUMS
November 10, 2010

Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today sent a letter to the CEOs of ten for-profit insurance companies asking these companies to lower premiums in light of higher profits.  The ten companies combined have announced a total of $9.5 billion in profits for the first nine months of 2010.  This is $2.1 billion higher that the first nine months of 2009.

REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WOULD BE HARMFUL TO AMERICA'S HEALTH
November 1, 2010

"When Republicans were last in the majority, millions more Americans became uninsured and health care and insurance costs spiraled out of control.  The health reform law is an historic step that moves our health care system in the right direction.  The Republican agenda would put our health care system back on a downward spiral and eliminate protections that will help all Americans."

STARK, BAUCUS, GRASSLEY RELEASE GAO REPORT SHOWING NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY IN NURSING HOME OWNERSHIP
October 27, 2010

"This GAO report found that a handful of private equity firms have been buying up nursing homes over the past decade – leaving seniors and their loved ones in the dark about who is making the decisions about their care.  New disclosure requirements in the health reform law will shed light on who owns nursing homes, who is making care decisions, and how these facilities are being run.  I intend to monitor CMS's progress in implementing the law, and look forward to a future report on the relationship between ownership and quality of care."


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