Healthcare

Attorney general to probe Kaiser for donations to governor

June 13, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>State's largest health group dismisses the accusations</h3><p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>The state attorney general is investigating allegations that the nonprofit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan indirectly made contributions to Gov. Gray Davis and others, violating state and federal campaign laws, according to a published report.</p>

Area activist has hand in patient-rights guide

June 12, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Linda Roberts-Ross of Yucaipa says the booklet she helped write will be sent to libraries and doctors.</h3><p class="source">The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA.)</p> <p>Health-care activist Linda Roberts-Ross helped write a booklet she hopes will give patients life-saving information.</p>

Review Boards Siding With HMOs So Far

June 11, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Study is state's first look at new process of handling disputes. The industry and consumer advocates disagree on significance.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Using a new consumer protection law, state regulators since Jan. 1 have sent nearly 200 disputes between HMOs and patients to an independent medical review board, which has ruled in favor of the health plans 65% of the time</p>

Officials, advocates say California HMO law should be national model

June 11, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>A new state law allowing patients to sue health maintenance organizations has not resulted in a flood of lawsuits as insurance companies had feared, according to state regulators and a consumer group.</p>

HEALTHY OUTLOOK FOR BILL TO ALLOW HMO SUITS

June 4, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Recorder</p> <p>Californians who receive botched health care may be able to take their HMO to court if a bill, which passed the Senate last week, continues on its current path.</p>

Capitol Digest: Senate OKs bill on patients’ rights

May 30, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Patients would retain the right to sue despite health-care agreements that say otherwise under legislation that passed the state Senate on Tuesday.</p>

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS ALLOWING PATIENTS TO SUE HMOS

May 30, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">BestWire</p> <p>The California state Senate has passed a bill that would give patients a choice of suing health maintenance organizations in court or through arbitration--under specific circumstances.</p>

Senate OKs bill banning mandatory arbitration of substantial harm cases

May 29, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Legislation bolstering a patients' right-to-sue law was narrowly approved by the state Senate on Tuesday despite opposition from business and medical lobbies.</p>

A guide to managed health care published

May 24, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>When Kathy Olsen's 2-year-old son, Steven, fell on a stick that jammed into his face in 1992, it set into motion a nightmare that still continues.</p>

Navigating the HMO seas

May 15, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>New guidebook a life raft for patients</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Her long battle against the state's biggest health maintenance organization has made Terry Preston an expert in tenacity. "I learned the hard way that HMOs and the health care industry rely on the waiting game," said Preston</p>

Employers, Care Providers Join Forces to Fight Insurers

May 14, 2001  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Los Angeles Business Journal</p> <p>Realizing there is strength in numbers, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights is attempting to build a coalition of medical professionals and business leaders</p>

Patients get help on HMO disputes

May 9, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Consumers puzzled by the increasingly dense thicket of regulations surrounding HMOs now have a new place to turn for help resolving health care disputes.</p>