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Statement: Important hospital patient safety measure won’t be ‘suppressed’ as originally planned
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ensured a safer future for millions of American patients late Monday with the release of its final rule on the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS). The final rule excludes a proposed provision that would have “suppressed” the calculation and publication of the CMS Patient Safety and Adverse Events Composite (Patient Safety Indicator 90), which reveals how well hospitals have prevented serious patient injury.
Statement: Equifax must be held accountable for mishandling consumer data yet again
According to the Wall Street Journal, Equifax sent to lenders millions of incorrect credit scores for consumers applying for auto loans, mortgages and credit cards. The Journal reports that the scores, sent during a three-week period from mid-March through early April, were sometimes off by 20 points or more in either direction. The Journal says Equifax called the error a “technology coding issue.” We’re calling on regulators to investigate Equifax to get to the bottom of this.
New list: Approaching 11th anniversary, top 11 actions CFPB recently took that anger financial industry
As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) turns 11 years old, a new list from U.S. PIRG highlights 11 ways this crucial agency has rededicated itself to its mission since Rohit Chopra was confirmed as its new director by the Senate last fall.
New Report: Robocalls Fall, Robotexts Skyrocket
According to a new report by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, “Ringing in our Fears”, a year after a new federal law aimed at fighting robocalls went into place, the number of phone companies that have adopted the required technology has quadrupled and the volume of scam robocalls has dropped in half. But the Arizona PIRG Education Fund said that spam texts have increased more than tenfold as con artists and identity thieves find alternative ways to steal Americans’ personal information and money.
Statement: U.S. PIRG joins Rep. Maloney and Sens. Booker and Warren for press conference on predatory overdraft fees
Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (NY) and Sens. Cory Booker (NJ) and Elizabeth Warren (MA) were joined by Mike Litt, U.S. PIRG’s consumer campaign director, and other advocates Tuesday to urge action on legislation to protect financial institutions’ customers from predatory overdraft fees.
Statement: FTC Takes Action Against Harley-Davidson and Westinghouse for “Illegally Restricting Customers’ Right to Repair.”
PIRG’s Senior Right to Repair Campaign Director, Nathan Proctor, issued the following statement on the FTC announcement: “The rubber is hitting the road on the FTC’s new focus on protecting your Right to Repair ... "
Report: Damaging methane gas pipeline leaks happen every 40 hours in the U.S.
According to a new report by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund and Frontier Group, gas pipeline incidents across the U.S. were serious enough to require reporting to the federal government at the equivalent of one every 40 hours from 2010 through nearly the end of 2021.
Phoenix City Council Unanimously Adopts Transportation Electrification Action Plan
Today, the Phoenix City Council unanimously approved a Transportation Electrification Action Plan that was developed through an Ad Hoc Committee led by Councilwoman Ansari and City Staff. The passage of the Plan, which will save taxpayers money while also improving air quality and public health, was lauded by consumer, clean energy, and public health organizations.
Arizona Corporation Commission Says No (Again) to SRP
Consumer, public health, community, business, environmental, clean energy, and faith-based entities along with residents of Randolph and SRP ratepayers applauded the Commission for once again rejecting Salt River Project’s proposal to add 16 gas units at a cost of nearly $1 billion in ratepayer money.
128,000 Americans Hospitalized Per Year From Foodborne Illness; Grocers, Government Need To Better Warn Consumers About Recalls
According to the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled 225 varieties of bagged lettuce, spinach and salad products in December because of potentially deadly contamination it took the FDA a week to post a public notice on its web site. While many stores quickly notify customers of recalls one way or another, they’re not required to, and their practices are neither uniform nor always timely.