Kreidler issues statement on President Trump’s threat to the Federal Drug Administration on vaccine approval

12/11/2020

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued the following statement today on Donald Trump’s threat to the FDA about vaccine approval:

“Donald Trump’s threat today to fire the head of the FDA for not immediately approving a COVID-19 vaccine is another low mark in the way his administration has grotesquely mismanaged the national response to the pandemic.

“Instead of letting respected and renowned medical experts do their jobs to ensure protection for all Americans, the president decided again to make himself the center of attention. He again completely…

Kreidler extends emergency order on coronavirus testing and surprise billing to Dec. 24

11/24/2020

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has extended two emergency orders. His order requiring health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) and his order protecting consumers from receiving surprise bills for lab fees related to medically-necessary diagnostic testing for COVID-19 are both extended until Dec. 24. 

Kreidler's order waiving cost sharing applies to all state-regulated health insurance plans and short-term limited duration medical plans. The order on surprise billing…

U.S. insurance departments report progress toward consistent global standards for Measuring Growing Climate Risks

11/24/2020

OLYMPIA/LOS ANGELES — Insurance Commissioners Mike Kreidler of Washington state and Ricardo Lara of California announced that eight insurance companies filed TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) reports in response to the Climate Risk Disclosure Survey in 2020. Washington and California, in partnership with the Departments of Insurance from Connecticut, Minnesota, New Mexico, and New York, conduct the annual survey and release the results on the California Department of Insurance website. The Climate Risk Disclosure Survey is sent to insurance companies that generate…

Spokane developer charged in a second round of insurance fraud claims

11/24/2020

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Ivan Kriger, of Spokane, was charged in Spokane County Superior Court with four counts of attempted theft and four counts of filing a false insurance claim. This is the second set of insurance fraud-related charges against Kriger investigated by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).

According to the investigation, Kriger filed two sets of fraudulent claims for commercial properties he owns in Spokane, a derelict building and an adjacent parking lot. Kriger is a developer in Spokane and owns a company called Crystal City LLC…