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Harkin threatens health insurers with subpoena

By Michael O'Brien - 11/04/09 02:19 PM ET

Health insurers could be hit with subpoenas to provide information about high premium increases, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) threatened Wednesday.

Harkin, the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, said his committee may demand information from health insurance companies about the reasoning for steep increases in premiums faced by small businesses.

"I've been inundated with letters and information about the exorbitant increases in premiums for small businesses in this country," Harkin said during an appearance on MSNBC. "I asked them to come and testify at a hearing I had yesterday. They refused."

"So now I'm asking them to give us information on which we can make some decisions on why these premiums are going up so much for small businesses," he added.

Harkin sent a letter to four insurers -- Humana, United Health Group, WellPoint, and Aetna -- asking for information on how they set rates and premiums for small business plans by Nov. 17.

The chairman threatened legally binding subpoenas if the firms won't comply.

"I intend to find out," he said. "I want this information back and if I don't get it back, I am prepared to issue subpoenas to those insurance companies."

Watch a video of the interview below:



Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/66343-harkin-threatens-health-insurers-with-subpoena

Comments (3)

Harkin how about supeona deadfish rahm and see what illegal threat he gave Phaqrma or whatever that dingbat ads that are running saying bogus basma is right. bogus bama is so far left he can't even go to the Berlin Wall when invited. What a freakin disgrace he is to the USABY jake2 on 11/04/2009 at 15:35
Bravo Senator Harkin, You have the courage to hold these insurance companies accountable, regardless of their massive campaign donors.God bless.BY Maria  on 11/04/2009 at 15:55
it's almost always the Republicans whose rhetoric consist almost exclusively of name calling and baseless accusation. Conservative means "conserve" not bash, smash and tear down. A little more conservation and a little more thought would make the whole nation better off.BY isa kocher on 11/04/2009 at 17:09

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