CALPIRG joint letter on Consumer protection for “California Covered”

CalHEERS IT System SHOP Requirements Request for Comments (November 2012)

CALPIRG joins a coalition of consumer advocates in preventing risks to consumers using the new health benefits exchange known as “California Covered.”

Report

CALPIRG Education Fund

Peter Lee, Executive Director
The California Health Benefit Exchange
Toby Douglas, Director
Department of Health Care Services

Re: The CalHEERS Business Requirements Process

Dear DHCS and Covered California Board and Staff:

On behalf of the undersigned, we submit these group comments (attached) regarding the CalHEERS Business Requirements Process, Request for Public Comment.

We very much appreciate being afforded this opportunity to review and provide comments to the confirmed and “in process” requirements developed through the RFP and JAD process. As you will see in our comments, we take this responsibility quite seriously and have provided detailed comments and suggestions that will ensure that CalHEERs, Covered California, and DHCS create a consumer friendly and consumer protective system. We continue to want to be involved as this process moves forward.

We noted that a number of these provisions are still marked “in process.” We have commented on the in process provisions, but also expect that when those requirements are confirmed, we will be provided the opportunity to review and comment on the completed revisions.

We would appreciate a follow-up meeting or conference call with Elizabeth and Julie, once you have time to digest our comments, to discuss your plans for next steps regarding the issues we have raised here.

Sincerely,

  • Alliance to Transform CalFresh
  • Asian Pacific American Legal Center, member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice
  • Bay Area Legal Aid
  • California Coverage and Health Initiatives
  • California Food Policy Advocates
  • California Immigrant Policy Center
  • California Pan Ethnic Health Network
  • California Rural Indian Health Board
  • CALPIRG Education Fund
  • Center for Democracy & Technology
  • Children Now
  • Coalition for California Welfare Rights Orgz.
  • Community Health Councils
  • Congress of California Seniors
  • Consumers Union
  • Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
  • Maternal and Child Health Access
  • National Health Law Program
  • Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
  • The Children’s Partnership
  • The Greenlining Institute
  • Vision y Compromiso
  • Western Center on Law and Poverty
  • Youth Law Center