Page 23 - Consumer Issues News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

AARP Arizona wants long-term care facilities in the state to do more to ensure the highest level of care for their residents, including being held accountable for any mishaps or deficiencies. Brendon Blake, director of advocacy for AARP Arizona, said it is crucial for people in long-term care settings to be given the first-rate care and respect they deserve. In addition to the issues of neglect, staffing shortages and low wages often making the news, Blake noted there is a lack of accessible data about the facilities. ...

The federal government is increasing oversight on Community Development Financial Institutions, making the application process more rigorous to weed out bad actors. In the past, shady financial institutions like predatory lenders have been able to get CDFI status. Andrew Kushner, senior policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending, said he has seen CDFIs offer loans with annual percentage rates as high as 190%. ...

Temporary rate hikes sought by a handful of utilities in Minnesota are taking effect. Consumer advocates are still monitoring long-term proposals and expressed concern about the timing for ratepayers. In recent weeks, Minnesota Power, CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy have received the green light from state regulators for short-term rate increases while their permanent request cases are considered. ...

In a new poll, 25% of voters say they have "personally experienced or witnessed discrimination in health care due to race, ethnicity, gender, disability, religion or sexual orientation." The poll, sponsored by Compassion & Choices, an end-of-life care advocacy group, included 1,600 voters from across the United States. "It was striking that one-quarter of voters report that they personally experienced or witnessed discrimination in health care, with an even higher 35% among Black people, 29% among Hispanics and 41% among people who are LGBT," said poll...

Federal and state regulators are cracking down on so-called "junk fees," which companies often use to hike prices on consumer products above what is advertised. These unexpected fees -- on hotel rooms, cars, concert tickets and more -- cost people tens of billions of dollars each year, and countless hours wading through the fine print of companies' terms and conditions. Diedre Cummings, legislative director for the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, said these sneaky practices need to stop. ...