California Attorney General Called To Investigate Insurance Companies’ Anti-Health Reform Advocacy
California Attorney General Called To Investigate Insurance Companies’ Anti-Health Reform Advocacy
The Los Angeles Times reported today that the California-based Consumer Watchdog has submitted a letter to Attorney General Jerry Brown calling for an investigation of insurance giants Wellpoint and United HealthCare (UHC). The complaint comes in response to the insurance companies’ practice of actively encouraging employees to engage in anti-health care reform political activity. According to Consumer Watchdog, “while coercive communications with employees may be legal, if abhorrent, in most states, California’s Labor Code appears to directly prohibit them.”
UHC was exposed last month for creating a call center that directed employees to anti-health reform protests. More recently, Wellpoint launched a “grassroots Web site” urging employees to “make [their] voice heard” by contacting Congress in opposition to health reform. It appears that these tactics may have been a violation of California law. According to the watchdog organization’s letter, UnitedHealthCare’s anti-reform hotline and Wellpoint’s astroturf lobbying website may violate California laws meant to prevent employers from influencing the political activity of its employees.
The accusations against UHC and Wellpoint comes on the heels of a string of ethically questionable moves by healthcare and energy giants to fight reform:
• AHIP, the multimillion dollar lobbying juggernaut for the health insurance industry, has mobilized 50,000 of its employees to lobby Congress against the public option.
• AHIP’s grassroots lobbying is managed by the corporate consulting firm
Democracy Data & Communications. The firm made its name working for organizations like Phillip Morris and Koch Industries, and is responsible for Wellpoint’s “grassroots” lobbying site linked in the Consumer Watchdog letter.• Astroturf firm Bonner & Associates is being investigated by Congress for forging letters in opposition to the Waxman-Markey clean energy act.
If Calfornia’s Attorney General chooses to pursue an investigation of UHC and Wellpoint, it could open the floodgates to increased accountability of health care industry ethically questionable lobbying strategies.
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KILL THE CORPORATIONS!!!!!
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:05 pmIf Calfornia’s Attorney General chooses to pursue an investigation of UHC and Wellpoint, it could open the floodgates to increased accountability of health care industry ethically questionable lobbying strategies.
- – Jerry Brown, who’s running for governor, are you kidding? IF?
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:10 pmI’ll believe it when I see it. Worst case they will just pay some fine to make this ‘inconvenience’ quietly go away like they always do. They have more money than God and can pretty much buy off anyone. Even the state of California.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 pmwell, HOO-RAH!!!
thank you, Consumer Watchdog… GO jerry brown!
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:17 pm“California Attorney General Called To Investigate Insurance Companies’ Anti-Health Reform Advocacy”
Good. Release the hounds!!!!!!
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:26 pmNo fines for these corporations. Arrest their CEOs and their entire executive boards and put them in prison. That is the only way to prevent this type of corporate abuse from continuing.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:26 pmIf AG Brown investigates these crooks, that’d be like Christmas in September for me! Keep pressing Consumer Watchdog.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:28 pmThese health insurers are vile swindlers.
It’s amazing how there seems to be no money to pay fully for needed operations and emergency surgeries, but there seems to be loads and loads of dough for throwing at corrupt congress critters, wining and dining of government officials, luxury condos in Europe for top executives and the like.
Screw the repiggies, and screw the teabagger trash.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:30 pmI wonder if their are anti-trust implications to the health insurance companies’ coordinated and organized opposition to health care reform. Given some of the tactics, RICO violations could be involved as well.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:33 pmSpeaking of State AG Brown. He looking into HMO probe:
News Release
September 03, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brown Launches Independent Inquiry into HMOs’ Handling of Health Insurance Claims
Los Angeles – Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that deputies in his office are launching an independent inquiry into how Health Maintenance Organizations review and pay insurance claims submitted by doctors, hospitals and other medical providers.
This investigation is prompted by reports that California’s five largest health-insurance providers are denying insurance claims at rates of up to 39.6 percent.
“These high denial rates suggest a system that is dysfunctional, and the public is entitled to know whether wrongful business practices are involved,” Brown said.
In the coming days and weeks, deputies will review records and will speak with individuals who have relevant knowledge of the issues raised.
# # #
http://ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/release.php?id=1797
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:34 pmCommenter #1 may be onto something… Corporations are the source of great evil in America in the 21st century…
O/T: Keith Olbermann on his MSNBC show tonight indicated in his first segment that President Obama may be going to drop the Public Option in his plan for health care reform. This would be a vicious low blow to both progressives and the American people how have indicted strong support for it. Why is TP not discussing this issue? Is this Public Option Potato too hot for TP to handle?
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:35 pmYes, $1.4 million A DAY to lobby Congress, and not to pay for necessary health care? Lopsided, don’t you think?
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:36 pmRe: Levi the Dungbeetle @ 6:
In addition to jailing the vermin, let’s also subject them to the same type of assets forfeiture that is now used against (non-CIA) drug dealers. That should provide enough resources to fund universal Congress-quality health care up to the year 2100.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:38 pmBut . . . but . . . we have the best insurance company-based health care system in the world!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqd0XiNvtI0
That’s why I’m not worried about Triggers, the insurance companies are doomed to fail the test.
Laughter is the best medicine.
dk
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 pmI say we pull a Dick Cheney/Jack Bauer on ‘em and torture their family members for the answer. There are people who need healthcare waiting (tick, tick, tick.)
Take the drill to the CEO’s little kiddies head, that will loosen up his memeory a little.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:44 pmSic ‘em, Watchdog!
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:49 pmThis site and video is hysterical:
billionaires for wealthcare would like to thank birthers, teabaggrs and deathers for their blind support.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:50 pmOval12345678 aka James K. Sayre says:
Commenter #1 may be onto something… Corporations are the source of great evil in America in the 21st century…
————————————————————–
Corporations are machines. They only exist to create wealth. The relationship between corporations and our government is evil. And now, corporate mainstream media is becoming an almost full-blown circus. Let the people be entertained.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:02 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Come on Gali-forn-ya sue the hell out of them! The additional revenue will help to. The next order of business is to produce the master list of pols who are getting pay off insurance money.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:20 pmkwsventures says:
God you are stupid. You are nothing but an ignorant punkass troll who never had an original thought in your entire life. How well do things run in capitalist paradises like Guatemala and Haiti? You are an ignorant piece of garbage. Just STFU since you are WAY too stupid to contribute to an adulte conversation. It is MARKETS that create business oppportunities. If the corporations went away we would just have other businesses. I dont want them dead just severly weaked and NEVER given the status of personhood. The facts are simple. You are just flat out too stupid to understand, well, pretty much anything
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:22 pmWhen you think of public policy, think of Mark Fuhrman. Watch this jack-o make up lies on the spot about the VA hospitals.
http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2777
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:22 pmIt would be fitting justice for Corporate CEOs and their executive boards to suffer asset forfeiture. Perhaps healthcare forfeiture could also be put on the table, so they can have a taste of living without healthcare until they die.
Until the criminality of the health care insurance companies is punished with something that has real teeth, they will continue their crime spree.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:22 pmKILL THE CORPORATIONS…AS WE KNOW THEM and create NEW, publically answerable corporations, that act like CITIZENS within a COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. Not we allowed to think they are transnational entities untouchable by any court.
F UCK THAT. We, the people, need to lop a few CEO head off, and then restructure ALL State corporate laws to be the same, enough with this bullshit of different states having differing laws, that the corporation right next door to you gets to work under, but then screwes you even though your state says they can’t.
CORPORATIONS were never protected in teh Constitution, the Torries (that is who won the American Revolution in the 1860’s when they got the SUPREME COURT to illegally recognize corporations as persons.)
Corporations are evil.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:26 pmCORPORATIONS were never protected in the Constitution, the Torries (that is who won the American Revolution in the 1860’s )) had the final say when they got the SUPREME COURT to illegally recognize corporations as persons.
Corporations as we know them today are evil, but they can be fixed.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:28 pmThe insurance companies, with their denial of coverage, are committing genocide. Purposely letting people die is NOT a moral I want to partake in.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:38 pmI will be dropping my healthinsurance and using Emergency rooms EXCLUSIVELY if the public option does not pass.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:40 pm***
#19,
pro cuba and north korea?
not surprised.
**
the damage that meth
can do to a republican mind.
:|
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:45 pmWhen you boo and harass a woman who has a disability, who is trying to make her point after these thugs have made theirs well known at more than a few of these town hall events, the term “questionable” is not even an acceptable term on how to broach this topic.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:48 pmAnd did you hear about the rally in Florida where a pro health care reform senior citizen got punched in the face by a truck driving redneck?
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:12 pmGotta yell at em ignant repeters: “I heerd you duh first time, now shuts up, and let bubba talk and if you start yelling again johnnybob Daryllray you dont get no food vouher for coming to dis town hall!”
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:14 pmMr@29, I saw the video and that was the most appaling display I have ever seen. Harrassing a woman in a wheelchair? Is that what the Repugs have come too? And for the fellows who were the ones who were yelling, how do they feel now that their faces are splashed all over the media? Do they feel a little guilty? Remorse? I will NEVER vote Republican again! As God as my witness. The fact NO Republican has spoken out against this behavior is disturbing. WTF?
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:15 pmLet’s not forget that Alexandria, VA-based astroturfer Democracy Data International (DDI) was also behind that idiotic casino-funded “Freedom’s Watch” organization.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:19 pmThe loons have found the secret code and left the asylum
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 pmYou would have a better chance hitting a fly in motion with spit that Jerry Brown investigating Insurance companies.That how corrupt governance has become in America.Shameful but true.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:22 pmX@34, Is that the one who bit off the other guys finger? On CNN they are telling the story of the guy who lost his finger as the victim. The irony is that the guy who got his finger re-attached had Medicare. Unreal.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:23 pmIm reading conflicting stories as well P.D.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:51 pmStick it to them Jerry Brown!
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:59 pmI have come to the conclusion the corporate powers that be may be too big and we are screwed. Thom Hartman many times has commented the board of directors of corporations are interwoven, sit on other boards.
My turning point was this:
A couple of months ago a Dallas TX news 8 investigated Chinese aircraft shops located here in the USA illegally hired, maybe still hires, unlicensed foreign workers bussed in by the hundreds. This is in huge violation of the FAA.
You would think MSM would run with this story. They did not and by not doing so they are protecting another corporation, Chinese Arto Space.
I contacted the FAA and their response was to contact my local FAA.
The MSM will hype up a war, ginning up reaction to profit in their buddy – defense.
Health insurance/Big Pharma is also in with the big giants. Is the MSM doing specials on the down and out due to denied health care? I’m sure a story like that would get ratings.
I would really like someone to set me straight if I am wrong. I fear that is not going to happen.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:33 pmWe need to rebrand the shitty Insurance run healthcare to compete with the ridiculous Obamacare. We need to rebradn it CORPORATECARE. To make sure everyone realzies their healthcare is bring run by the CORPORATIONS.
CORPORATECARE Vs Obamacare
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:47 pmCORPORATECARE Vs Obamacare
CORPORATECARE Vs Obamacare
CORPORATECARE Vs Obamacare
CORPORATECARE Vs Obamacare
COLD CORPORATECARE
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:48 pmCOLD CORPORATECARE
COLD CORPORATECARE
COLD CORPORATECARE
ridiculous “Obamacare” [should have had quotes.]
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:49 pmhad enough @8:50pm
killer link!
I attended a healthcare vigil last night and we were outnumbered by uninvited teabaggers.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:59 pmI’m forwarding this to the sponsor.
Thanks!
If Jerry Brown investigates this, I’ll help him become Governor Moonbeam again. :D
September 4th, 2009 at 12:17 amGovernor Moonbeam doesn’t seem looney at all,
September 4th, 2009 at 12:31 amafter the past year of Palin, C-street cult members, the fox pox plague…
Does he, Chessmaster?
19. kwsventures says: Death Counselor says: KILL THE CORPORATIONS!!!!! Pure genius. We will have 70% unemployment. Or better yet let the government run everything. It works so well in Cuba and North Korea. September 3rd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Good on you, vent. Stick up for the corporations. They’re such weak puny little things. And it’s not like they’re something run by a committee of greedheads or anything. They ever and always have your interest and only your interest in mind.
Now, may I inquire as to whether you’d like to be the proud owner of a nice bridge in NYC? It’s been well maintained, at taxpayer expense of course…
September 4th, 2009 at 1:08 amI heard that at first the news outlets were reporting that the guy who got his finger bitten off was _for_ health-care reform, and then all of a sudden they were saying that he _opposed_ it.
Too weird.
September 4th, 2009 at 1:17 amSorry, O.T.
Why David Broder Is Wrong
Rep. John Conyers
Congressman from Michigan
Posted: September 3, 2009
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-conyers/why-david-broder-is-wrong_b_276810.html
Reading this Oped, one can see how the Congressman illustrates how ONE “journalist” can control the National dialogue through partisan bias. You know, the MSM that needs to become that Fifth Estate…
… AGAIN!
Oh, but I did get a heck of a belly laugh when FOXPRAVDA prided itself as being the favorite of Bush/Cheney Clan. I knew that the Fifth Estate was lost for sure.
September 4th, 2009 at 1:55 amI’m sick of all this talk of compromise.
Either Obama rams this thing through with Democrat support and fulfills his promise to us, the people who put him in his office or he can do all the glad handing promo stuff he wants with George Lopez, ESPN, etc.
Because once you give the GOP loon machine any real momentum, any win looks like they won the Super Bowl & Big Bucks Lottery if they topple the “chosen one”. I’m sure Glenn Beck will run around kissing coworkers on his show if Obamacare is defeated while he is on the air screaming “We did it! We won!!!”, while he does a championship cry and points to the sky.
September 4th, 2009 at 2:59 amCorporations are not people and therefore not citizens, allowing them to have such a mojor impact on public policy is wrong. There needs to be some real thought about legislation to remove their ability to influence policy.
September 4th, 2009 at 9:48 amInvestigating the insurance companies now would be a public relations nightmare for the Democrats. The Republicans would stand up and say something like this: “The liberals are using the power of the government to intimidate and therefore stifle free speech. If the public option was such a good idea, why don’t they debate it openly instead of spending time trying to silence their critics?
September 4th, 2009 at 10:38 amWasn’t Brown on this like white on rice???
September 4th, 2009 at 11:14 amBrown:
September 4th, 2009 at 5:39 pmGO FOR IT!! (I’m not against corporations/businesses in general, just the ones who break our laws)
Isn’t there some form of capaign or election law against this in California, like having to show who donated money and how much they donated to a certain campaign? I know that we have a law like this on the national level, so maybe we need some on the state as well.
September 4th, 2009 at 5:43 pm