News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
 September 9, 2010 Contact: HHS Press Office 
 
 (202) 690-6343 Sebelius calls on health insurers to stop misinformation and unjustified rate increases Affordable Care Act will help lower costs and crack down on unjustified rate increases WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wrote America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the national association of health insurers, calling on their members to stop using scare tactics and misinformation to falsely blame premium increases for 2011 on the patient protections in the Affordable Care Act. Moreover, the trends in health costs, independent of the legislation, have slowed.
– At least he didn't invoke Hitler: Newt Gingrich today accused health secretary Kathleen Sebelius of "Soviet tyranny" and said she embodies the "left-wing thought police" because of Obamacare, reports Politico. His money quote at the Values Voter summit in DC: “When Secretary Sebelius said the other day she would punish insurance companies who told the truth about Obamacare, she was behaving exactly in the spirit of the Soviet tyranny. If she is going to represent left-wing thought police about Obamacare, she should be forced to resign by the new Congress.” Gingrich was referring to this letter sent by Sebelius to insurers warning them to stop "falsely blaming premium increases" on the new health legislation. She said there would be "zero tolerance" of it. Elsewhere in his speech, Gingrich lavished praise on Sarah Palin and Jim DeMint for the Tea Party's successes. To catch up on his recent charged comments about President Obama's "Kenyan" world view, click here.