Express Health and Couillard are accused of telling patients to complete applications as the clinic just wanted to check on credit qualification. They then submitted the applications, even submitting false annual income for patients. When the patients were issued a credit card, the defendants placed charges on the credit card without consent. Between December 2006 and April 2009, the clinic charged $560,850 to CareCredit credit cards issued to its patients. The AG says nearly one-half that amount has been refunded to patients who raised complaints.

State: New Legislation on Health Insurance, Cancer Initiatives


Maine, Delaware and California have enacted legislation on significant health issues. In Maine, Governor John E. Baldacci has signed LD 1205, which gives the State's insurance superintendent better authority to oversee rate increases and allow consumers to easily compare health insurance plans. Insurance companies will be required to provide clear explanations of the benefits so consumers have a better understanding of policy coverage. The Governor also signed LD 1444, requiring the Advisory Council on Payment Reform and the Maine Health Data Organization to promote public transparency on quality and cost of health care through the publication of financial and quality information.

In Delaware, Governor Jack Markell signed two childrelated health care bills into law. House Bill 139 expands the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage to children of families with personal incomes above 200% of the federal poverty level. Currently, CHIP is only available to children in families with an income level less than the 200%. House Bill 199 will require screening for developmental delays in infants and toddlers, and also require that private health insurers in Delaware cover the screenings.

Finally, the California legislature has passed Senate Joint Resolution 7, in which the legislature officially urges the President and U.S. Congress to expand federally funded research efforts to develop a reliable means of detecting pancreatic cancer in early stages and more effective means of treatment, through legislative measures (such as recently introduced H.R. 745--calling for the establishment of a Pancreatic Cancer Initiative). The Secretary of the Senate will transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President, U.S. Congresspersons from California, and the directors of the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.

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