Insurance
When Does Oversight Overstep?
There are mixed reviews among the scientific community about whether CIRM's close watch of their grantees is a good thing. To some,…
Nov 16, 2009Consumer Watchdog
Providing an effective voice for American consumers in an era when special interests dominate public discourse, government and politics. Non-partisan.
Articles by Consumer Watchdog
Healthcare
Healthcare Bills Could Jeopardize States’ Consumer Protection Laws
Opening the door for insurers to sell policies across state lines could allow health plans to avoid tougher requirements in places like…
Nov 16, 2009At Least 87 Million Americans At Risk Of Losing Health Protections Under U.S. Senate Finance Health Reform Bill
Finance Bill Expected To Preempt State Health Benefit Mandate Laws Such As HIV Testing, Reconstructive Surgery, Home Health Services WASHINGTON, D.C. --…
Nov 16, 2009
Privacy
Alameda County DA To Investigate Attorney General’s Office
Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley received a letter today from Attorney General Jerry Brown asking her to investigate covert recordings of…
Nov 16, 2009
Insurance
Drug companies and banks: Bedfellows in abuse
I don't think you'll be shocked by this news, but drug companies are jacking up their prices in advance of new laws…
Nov 16, 2009
Privacy
Political Parties, Candidates Cashing In On Pay-To-Play Issues Forums
Top industry executives piled into Google's Silicon Valley headquarters over the weekend to hear California's Barbara Boxer, New Mexico's Jeff Bingaman and…
Nov 15, 2009
Insurance
Con: It’s An Industry Scam
When Californians enacted insurance reform with Proposition 103 in 1988, voters prohibited auto insurers from considering prior insurance coverage. Now, two decades…
Nov 15, 2009
Insurance
Poizner’s Claims As Insurance Commissioner Questioned
SACRAMENTO, CA -- As he campaigns to become California's next governor, Republican Steve Poizner often proclaims that auto and homeowner insurance rates…
Nov 15, 2009
Privacy
Google submits revised digital book settlement to US judge
Google and US authors and publishers submitted a revised settlement to a US judge Friday seeking approval of an agreement that would…
Nov 15, 2009
Privacy
Google, Authors Try To Answer Book Deal Concerns
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Google and the Authors Guild filed a new version of a deal to create a massive online library on…
Nov 14, 2009
Insurance
Big Insurance Companies Have Absolutely No Shame
ED SCHULTZ, HOST: UnitedHealthcare, the country's largest insurer, is pressuring employees to do their dirty work for them and lobby Congress against…
Nov 14, 2009
Healthcare
Status Quo Is Best Scenario For Insurance Company Profits
And then there is United Health, whose lethal pursuit of profit has been chronicled before on this program. With reform options narrowing…
Nov 14, 2009
Insurance
Watchdog Group Questions Propriety Of DSCC Fundraiser For Bingaman, Others
A $5,000-per-ticket “national innovation conference,” hosted by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and attended by senators including New Mexico’s Jeff Bingaman, is being…
Nov 13, 2009
Privacy
Comparing Democratic, GOP fundraisers
Both the Democratic and Republican Senate campaign committees are holding big fundraisers -- the Democrats today at Google headquarters and the Republicans…
Nov 13, 2009
Insurance
UnitedHealth Urges Its Workers To Lobby Senate
Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth suggested its employees write U.S. senators to oppose health care reform proposals and even provided letters to use. The Nov.…
Nov 13, 2009
Privacy
Democrats’ Event Raises Questions About ‘Pay To Play’
A Democratic Party-sponsored "national innovation conference" to examine key policy and technology issues at Google's headquarters beginning today has critics charging that…
Nov 13, 2009
Healthcare Litigation
State Approves Autism Claims
Several families of autistic children denied treatments by their health plans have won administrative appeals, in a sign that a recent court…
Nov 13, 2009
Healthcare
United Healthcare Urges Employees To Lobby Senators
The nation's largest health insurance company is recruiting its employees in a grassroots lobbying campaign against health care reform, according to the…
Nov 13, 2009