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Clinton pushes consumer protection during Iowa visit

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By Todd Dorman | Thursday, August 16, 2007 |

WAUKEE, Iowa — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton laid out plans Wednesday to improve consumer protection for the elderly, including expanded investigation of insurance scams and criminal background checks for home health care workers.

“The good news is we’re living longer and we’re living healthier lives,” she said. “But we still have to figure out how we’re going to get our system to catch up with what is the reality of life today.”

Clinton, a New York senator, spoke in the band room at Waukee High School in the western suburbs of Des Moines. The event led off a day of politicking for Clinton, who also drew plenty of attention during a stop at the Iowa State Fair.

She mixed policy proposals with some of the themes of her new television ad, in which she says vulnerable Americans are invisible to the Bush administration.

“I want you to know that you’re not invisible to me,” Clinton said.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino fired back, calling the ad “outrageous” and “absurd,” according to a transcript.

Clinton’s plan includes the following elements:

n Increased enforcement of fraud and abuse of the elderly.

n Heightened consumer protection standards for insurance companies.

n A requirement that insurance policies be written clear language.

n Criminal background checks for home health care workers.

In addition to the consumer protection initiatives, Clinton said she would expand the Medicare prescription drug program to eliminate the so-called “doughnut hole” of coverage limits.

Under the current system, consumers get benefits up to a certain level, then the benefits end at an intermediate level, only to kick in again at a higher level. This in-between level with no coverage has been nicknamed the donut hole.

Clinton is on a two-day swing through the state at a time when national polls show her leading the Democratic field, although she is in a close race in Iowa with John Edwards and Barack Obama.

Todd Dorman contributed to this story. Dan Gearino can be reached at (515) 243-0138 and dan.gearino@lee.net. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.