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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 18, 2013 09:56 AM
From:	Representative Kate Harper
To:	All House members
Subject:	Establishing an Office of Consumer Advocate to Health Insurance - Former HB 59

Many of us have been contacted by small business owners and other constituents concerned about the unpredictability of rising insurance rates while coverage is changed or reduced. Others cannot obtain coverage for procedures which appear to be within the parameters of their policies. For these and many other reasons, I believe that better oversight of the health insurance industry from the Commonwealth’s perspective should be established to ensure that residents have an advocate to turn to when they have complaints about their health insurance companies. In the near future, I plan on reintroducing legislation to establish the Office of Consumer Advocate for Health Insurance as an independent office within the Office of Attorney General to advocate on behalf of consumers in the Commonwealth. Please note that this legislation has been modified to accommodate the changes that have been and will continue to be forthcoming as a result of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Consumer Advocate would represent consumer interests before the Insurance Department as well as before any court or agency and would be modeled after the Consumer Advocate for the Public Utility Commission. Unlike other legislation of this type, my definition of “consumer” includes employers and others who pay premiums. Previous Co-sponsors: BARRAR, B. BOYLE, DeLUCA , FABRIZIO, FARRY, FREEMAN GINGRICH, HENNESSEY, MUNDY, O'NEILL, PETRI, SCAVELLO, WATSON,YOUNGBLOOD, D. COSTA, QUINN, BOBACK, MURT and HARHART

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