Government
Bill would shine light on companies that rely on Medicaid
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 11, 2005
Wal-Mart is once again the target of critics who argue that the retail giant has helped launch a new race to the bottom in employer-based health coverage.
In response to recent findings that the company's workers receive more than $210 million in taxpayer-financed health care in 15 states, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D, Mass.), Sen. Jon Corzine (D, N.J.) and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D, N.Y.) last month introduced a bill that would require all states to report annually on the number of employees of large companies who receive health coverage through Medicaid and other public programs.
"American companies must start providing living wages and affordable health benefits to their employees and stop saddling the federal, state, and local governments and the taxpayers with their responsibilities," Corzine said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/07/11/gvbf0711.htm.
