While not included in sweeping federal health reform, the head of the Senate’s health committee said “we can and should do more” to protect consumers from unjustified premium increases.

Once lauded as a way for the federal government to aid states in conducting reviews of “unreasonable” rate increases on health insurance, a plan pitched by the Obama Administration is not in a health reform bill set for a vote March 21.

The focus of some sharp criticism in recent days, the nation’s private insurance companies are now taking Washington, D.C., to task for painting them as the bad guys, solely responsible for rising healthcare costs.