GOP: HHS Donation Requests Illustrate Conflict of Interest

In a letter sent Monday to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Republican leaders on the House Ways and Means Committee said Sebelius' requests for private donations to a campaign focused on implementing and raising awareness about the Affordable Care Act illustrate "a clear appearance of a conflict of interest." In separate letters, GOP leaders on the House Energy and Commerce Committee also asked Sebelius and the CEOs of 11 large insurers -- including Aetna, Cigna, Coventry Health Care, Humana, UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint -- to provide information about the funding requests.

• "GOP Probes Sebelius Fundraising Push" (Baker, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 5/13).