Insurance
Bill may lower health care costs
State to consider legislation that would give it the power to restrict rate increases by health insurersContra Costa Times Aiming to halt…
Apr 8, 2003Consumer Watchdog
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Articles by Consumer Watchdog
Insurance
GOP covets state medical malpractice caps
As premiums rise, national Republicans would like federal law to emulate California'sOakland Tribune Shimamoto said that she was told by the several…
Apr 7, 2003
Insurance
Consumer advocates, Democrats eye state control on health insurance increases
SFGate.com / Associated Press A group of Democratic lawmakers and consumer advocates will propose legislation Tuesday to try to hold down skyrocketing…
Apr 7, 2003
Healthcare
Supreme Court Expands Right of States to Regulate HMOs;
The unanimous ruling upholds willing provider laws, which let group member go to physician not part of network. Calif. excluded because it…
Apr 3, 2003
Healthcare
Ruling backs states’ power over HMOs
Sacramento Bee In a unanimous opinion, the justices upheld a 1994 Kentucky law allowing HMO patients to seek treatment from doctors, hospitals,…
Apr 3, 2003
Healthcare
HMOs must open up;
Justices rule that states can force health care plans to accept more doctors in network.Long Beach Press-Telegram The Supreme Court ruled unanimously…
Apr 3, 2003
Healthcare
COURT: STATES CAN FORCE HMOS TO ACCEPT DOCTORS
The Daily News of Los Angeles The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that states can force HMOs to open up their doctor…
Apr 3, 2003
Healthcare
Man With Wrong Kidney Removed Denied Adequate Compensation
Harry Jordan - Long Beach, California
Apr 2, 2003Homeowners Must Have Access to Insurance, Consumer Group Says
Senate Bill Would End Industry Blackballing of Consumers Who File a Claim
Apr 2, 2003
Healthcare
After Being Denied an $800 CAT Scan by Doctor, Boy is Blind and Brain Damaged
Steven Olsen - Chula Vista, California
Apr 1, 2003Not An April Fool’s Joke: Assemblymember Proposes Energy Deregulation Law
Bill Would Re-Open Electricity Direct Access Legislation to re-institute a key provision of California's failed electricity deregulation experiment was met with strong…
Apr 1, 2003
Healthcare
Under the MICRAscope; Caps on noneconomic damages intensely debated, little understood
Modern Physician ..even as Congress and many states consider enacting MICRA look-alikes, the 28-year-old California law is little understood and subject to…
Apr 1, 2003
Insurance
Misleading malpractice reform
The Oregonian California found that caps on noneconomic damages weren't enough to hold down premium increases. California set limits on increases in…
Apr 1, 2003
Insurance
Med Mal Caps Won’t Solve Insurance Hikes
Western Massachusetts Law Tribune Clearly caps are unfair to those victims with loss of fertility, disfigurement, and other traumas, and they just…
Apr 1, 2003
Privacy
Doctor Fails to Recognize Life-Threatening Heart Condition, Son Dies While Training for Marathon
Kenneth Evan Kennedy - San Francisco, California
Mar 31, 2003
Insurance
The high stakes of an insurance claim
San Diego Union-Tribune The object of Pfeffer's ire is State Farm Insurance. The former Rohr Industries buyer said the cost of his…
Mar 30, 2003
Insurance
No need to cap medical malpractice awards
Fort Collins Coloradoan With medical insurance costs amounting to only 3.2 percent of the average physicians expenses and with only 2 percent…
Mar 29, 2003
Healthcare
Limiting malpractice awards needs exception
The Journal News (New York) Bipartisan efforts in Congress to cap portions of jury awards in medical malpractice suits hit a snag…
Mar 28, 2003