Dems' bill seeks health data from Wal-Mart, others

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http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=governmentFilingsNews&storyID=URI:urn:newsml:reuters.com:20050621:MTFH87278_2005-06-21_23-03-44_N21614850:1

WASHINGTON, June 21 (Reuters) - In an effort to put pressure on the health-care policies of large profitable companies like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research), several Democrats said on Tuesday they would introduce a bill requiring states to report annually on the number of workers relying on taxpayer-funded health programs.

The bill would not require companies to offer affordable insurance to workers, but it would shed light on their practices and establish how many workers rely on publicly-funded programs such as Medicaid, a state-federal program for those who cannot afford medical care.

"Programs like Medicaid provide a critical safety net for low-income women and children, the disabled, and the elderly and shouldn't be a profit center for large companies like Wal-Mart," said Sen. Edward Kennedy on Massachusetts, one of the bill's sponsors.

Wal-Mart denies charges that it steers workers toward public assistance and says it typically picks up two-thirds of the cost of health insurance premiums for its workers.

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