Consumer Watchdog

Why $3.50?

Several states criticize Enzi health insurance bill

Associated Press In a letter to Enzi last month, California Attorney General Bill Lockyear: "As you are aware, there is a proliferation…

Health-insurer mergers’ murky effects;

Insurers' consolidation not clearly linked to cost woesMarketWatch/Dow Jones Still, health insurers wield more influence through their market position than hospitals when…

L.A. MORTGAGES FUTURE;

BOND PROJECTS RAISE PROPERTY TAXES 10 PERCENT SINCE 1989The Daily News of Los Angeles "Bonds are large-scale versions of credit cards, and…

For $10,000, you get…

Sacramento Bee (California) What is wrong with this picture? Plenty, if you think that public stewards of taxpayer money should keep at…

Refiners Enjoying Bigger Profits;

Estimates show earnings at the state's gasoline producers have doubled since January while average pump prices creep toward $3 a gallon.Los Angeles…

Canciamilla takes insurance money & co-sponsors insurance company bill

Contra Costa Times (California) Meanwhile, Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla, D-Pittsburg, ran afoul of a watchdog group when he co-sponsored a bill to delay…

Forget Liability Caps, Focus On Accreditation

Insurance companies set premium rates based on the stock market, not caps. When the market is bad and investment returns are low,…

County health budget in crisis

San Gabriel Valley Tribune (California) "The pressure to squeeze out $300 million in savings could pinch patients unless the county proceeds with…

Health plan to cut deficit;

Focus of L.A. County proposal on standardizing careThe Daily News of Los Angeles "The pressure to squeeze out $300 million (annually) in…

Health care for all in Mass.;

A law signed yesterday calls for the 515,000 uninsured residents to have insurance by 2010.The Philadelphia Inquirer Critics claim the new law…

The legal lock on stem cells;

Two patents that cover key research areas are setting back science.The Los Angeles Times California doesn't have a lot of room to…

Stem Cell Institute Awards 1st Grants;

Roughly $12.1 million from private sources will jump-start research as the organization's ability to issue bonds is determined in court.The Los Angeles…

Stem-cell institute issues first grants;

FUNDING HAS BEEN HELD UP BY LAWSUITSThe San Jose Mercury News One consumer advocate raised questions about the fundraiser. John Simpson of…

Universal Solution?

Mass. hospitals welcome bill to cover nearly allModern Healthcare Insurers are excited about the individual mandate because it creates a law that…

Insurance counter-bill hits traffic

Appeal-Democrat (California) "Over the last two decades, the insurance industry has used every type of scare tactic to stall insurance reform. Now,…

Stem cell institute maps out strategy;

Plan will determine how $3 billion spentThe San Diego Union-Tribune Taxpayer advocates agreed. "This is the most important thing they are doing…

Insurers well-braced for next California quake

Associated Press Today, 86 percent of the state's homeowners have no earthquake insurance. CEA officials are hoping this month's 100th anniversary of…