Consumer Watchdog

Ashcroft Reconsiders HMO Bill

Kansas City Star WASHINGTON - Sen. John Ashcroft is having second thoughts about his opposition to a high-profile bill that would give…

State to Examine Planned Hospital Closure

Sacramento Bee California Attorney General Bill Lockyer has launched a statewide probe into whether the parent company of Mercy Healthcare Sacramento violated…

California: Blue Cross Proposes Lower Premiums

American Healthline In an attempt to reduce the number of uninsured residents, Blue Cross of California proposed yesterday to reduce premiums and…

Governor Davis Signs Bill For Public Disclosure Of Insurers’ Market Conduct Exams

Blue Cross To Offer Cheap Plan

San Francisco Chronicle Saying it wants to offer cheaper health care to the uninsured, Blue Cross of California proposed premium reductions yesterday…

Utility bills may charge up election

Stockton Record A second major utility has announced its intention to bill customers for costs associated with this summer's skyrocketing power prices,…

PG&E, Edison seek OK to bill consumers for price-hike debt

San Diego Union Tribune The crisis caused by electrical deregulation -- which has blown budgets across San Diego -- is now leading…

Consumer Groups Seek Rate Protection

Electricity: Activists push legislators to promise that customers won't be forced to cover rising wholesale costsLos Angeles Times Consumer activists on Tuesday…

Blue Cross Latest Benefit Cuts Could Create “Junk Policies”;

The Foundation fort Taxpayer and Consumer Rights warned that Blue Cross of California's move today to substantially cut benefits in its policies…

Ratepayer Protection Pledge

This Pledge in Support of California Utility Consumers was mailed to all candidates for the State Legislature and the California Congressional delegation.

Politicians Challenged to Protect Consumers From the Failures of Electricity Deregulation

Pledge Mailed to Every California Incumbent and Candidates

Gore Partially Adopts Consumer Group Recommendation:

Punitive Measures To Be Taken Against Medicare HMOs That Cherry Pick Yesterday, Vice President Al Gore announced he would first warn, then…

Edison Wants $2 Billion From Ratepayers; Advocates Respond

Toward a Seamless System of Health Care

The time has come for an overhaul of the indecipherable patchwork of insurance programs to create a single, seamless and sensible system.

Power Plants Ask for Huge Tax Breaks

Counties resist pressure to reduce valuationsSan Francisco Chronicle Companies that bought up power plants under the state's deregulation program are now filing…

PG&E rate shock feared

Higher charges will be sought, but CEO says they would be spread outSan Jose Mercury News PG&E may seek to lift a…

Low sworn in as state insurance commissioner

Associated Press Insurance Commissioner Harry Low took the oath of office Monday, promising to restore public trust in the position his predecessor…

Congress Urged to Support Patient’s Bill of Rights

Troy Record ALBANY, NY- The husband of Judith Packevicz, the Saratoga Springs woman who died after battling her HMO over a liver…