Quoted in this article in the L.A. Times.
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones lashed out Tuesday at
another double-digit rate hike for thousands of small businesses getting
their health insurance from industry giant Anthem Blue Cross.
But this time Jones got some help from a surprising
source. He has quietly tapped Consumer Watchdog, his political ally and
the state's most outspoken industry critic, to help review health
insurance rate increases under a one-year contract worth as much as
$88,000.
The insurance industry expressed dismay that the state enlisted its
longtime nemesis to help review rate increases, and some experts
questioned whether it's necessary to further antagonize insurers at a
time when state officials are trying to work closely with the industry
to implement a massive healthcare expansion.
Public-policy experts also scoffed at the arrangement.
"Their very aggressive stance against insurance companies raises
serious questions about a conflict of interest," said Jessica Levinson, a
Loyola Law School professor and expert on government ethics. "You want
an independent researcher."
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