Consumer 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
Supreme Court Finds No Federal Case in HMO Lawsuit
Wahington Times The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 yesterday that health maintenance organization members injured because doctors ration health care in pursuit of…
Jun 13, 2000Senator releases confidential audits of Northridge insurers
Associated Press Insurance Department auditors found patterns of stalling and lowballed settlement offers by four insurers handling Northridge earthquake-related claims, reports released…
Jun 13, 2000Ruled Called Triumph For Managed Care
Sacramento Bee In a decision that could prod Congress to act on health care reform, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that…
Jun 13, 2000Reports on Quake Claims Made Public
Insurance: Confidential records released by state Senate leaders show 20th Century, State Farm and Allstate mishandled hundreds of cases.Los Angeles Times State…
Jun 13, 2000GIANT MEDICAL GROUP IS BACK IN CRISIS MODE
LOS ANGELES TIMES The giant medical practice once owned by MedPartners Inc., whose financial crisis last year disrupted care for about 1…
Jun 13, 2000Documents Show Insurers Botched Quake Claims
San Francisco Chronicle Confidential documents that Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush refused to give the Legislature show scores of cases in which insurance…
Jun 13, 2000Secret audits rip insurance firms
San Francisco Examiner Insurance companies repeatedly low-balled claims and misled victims after the Northridge earthquake, confidential audits released Monday show, but Insurance…
Jun 12, 2000Court Nixes Some Lawsuits vs. HMOs
Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court waded into the patients' rights debate Monday, shutting down one legal avenue for people…
Jun 12, 2000Documents Refute Quackenbush’s Alibi
Insurance Company Examinations, Released by Senate, Give Devastating Account of Rampant Violations By Insurers After the Northridge Quake
Jun 12, 2000Resign — Now. Quackenbush is unfit for his office
Tribune EditorialSan Diego Union Tribune State Insurance Commissioner Charles Quackenbush has shown himself to be unfit to continue in his post. He…
Jun 10, 2000Quackenbush’s Conduct Invites Impeachment
Chronicle EditorialSan Francisco Chronicle THE WAVE of condemning revelations of state Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush's conduct grows taller by the day. Penalty…
Jun 9, 2000Quackenbush Exit Time
Times EditorialLos Angeles Times The message was clear to state Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush late Thursday: Quit or face impeachment proceedings in…
Jun 9, 2000Insurance Czar’s Aide Under Fire
Testimony on mystery checks at Quackenbush foundationSan Francisco Chronicle Suggestions of criminal wrongdoing surfaced for the first time at an Assembly Insurance…
Jun 9, 2000