Commerce Committee Investigation Reveals That Medical Companies Wrongly Deny Patients Critical Tests
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV released a report with the findings of a year-long Commerce Committee staff investigation that found a pattern of inappropriate denials for medically necessary advanced imaging tests for Americans suffering from heart disease. Rockefeller started the investigation following news reports in March, 2010 suggesting that Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware (BCBSD) were denying patients critical nuclear cardiac stress tests.
Rockefeller Probe Into Bogus Charges on Consumer Phone Bills Expands
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today sent letters to five additional U.S. telephone companies to better understand their awareness of “cramming,” a deceptive practice that involves placing unauthorized third-party charges on consumers’ telephone bills. These letters are part of an ongoing Commerce Committee investigation into the small charges—generally between $10 and $20—that millions of American consumers and businesses find on their monthly phone bills.
Key Quotes from Today’s Hearing on Ensuring the Safety of Our Nation’s Motorcoach Passengers
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing today on ensuring the safety of our nation’s motorcoach passengers.
Rockefeller Statement on FTC-Google Settlement
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV released this statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it reached a settlement with Google over the rollout of its Buzz social network:
Rockefeller Asks DOT for More Aggressive Child Car Seat Testing
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) today asked U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood to do more “to protect children from injury or death in car crashes.”
Rockefeller, Cantwell Fight Gas Pricing Fraud
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) today joined Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) in urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to fully utilize its authority to make sure that American consumers are paying a fair price for gas. Gas prices have spiked recently, hurting families from coast to coast and threatening economic recovery.
Key Quotes from Today’s Hearing on the State of Online Consumer Privacy
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today on the state of online consumer privacy.
Chairman Rockefeller Remarks on the State of Consumer Online Privacy
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Welcome to all of our witnesses. Today’s hearing is the first in a series of hearings this Committee will hold on consumer privacy in the 112th Congress.
Rockefeller Urges Insurance Commissioners to Preserve the Strong Consumer Protections in the Health Care Reform Law
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, sent a letter today to the President of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) urging state insurance regulators to oppose giving health insurance agents and brokers a special exemption from an important pro-consumer provision of the health care reform law. The letter provides a detailed analysis of why exempting agent and broker commissions from the law’s “minimum medical loss ratio” requirements could cost individuals and businesses more than a billion dollars in lost rebates and premiums reductions. The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) and Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty are lobbying NAIC members to endorse this special agent and broker exemption at the NAIC’s upcoming meeting in Austin, Texas.
Rockefeller Disappointed By Breakdown of NFL Negotiations
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV released the following statement after the National Football League’s Players Association filed to decertify: