Senators Accuse Equifax of ‘Price-Gouging’ Medicaid Programs

A report from Nytimes says three Democratic senators have accused the credit‑rating company Equifax of price gouging states for a service many will use to comply with new work requirements for Medicaid and food assistance passed by Republicans in Congress last year.

In a letter to the company’s chief executive, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden and Bernie Sanders asked Equifax to answer questions about its business practices and anticipated profits, writing that “Equifax is laying the groundwork to cash in” and describing a “long history of anti-competitive behavior.” An Equifax spokesman, Daniel Jenkins, said the company would “respond through the appropriate channels” and that “Equifax operates in a highly competitive market.” Many states rely on an Equifax product called the Work Number to instantly verify a Medicaid applicant’s wages and work hours; the database covers at least 99 million workers, often obtained through exclusive contracts with payroll contractors and employers.