Healthcare

THROW LIGHT ON HMO COMPLAINTS

February 23, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Los Angeles Times Editorial</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Last month the state Supreme Court essentially prohibited health plans from sealing medical records involved in lawsuits if disclosing them would benefit the cause of public health. This is a broad-brushed decision that could cover almost any quality prob</p>

State asked to make health-plan disputes public

February 15, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Diego Union Tribune</p> <p>Two consumer groups have petitioned the state to open up the arbitration system used by most health plans to resolve disputes with plan members.</p>

Healing spirits

February 15, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Patients who can't remedy red tape have laws and advocate groups at their side.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register</p> <p>Jack Redmond needed an injection of a prostate-cancer drug, so he called his doctor's office. But no one picked up the phone.</p>

Consumer group wants records of patient-health plan arbitration

February 14, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>A consumer group has filed a petition to get access to records from arbitration hearings between health plans and patients.</p>

Bush, Congress at odds over patients’ rights to sue

February 10, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">United Press International</p> <p>A bipartisan congressional group has proposed a new compromise on patients' rights legislation, including a limited right to sue health plans, but President Bush has countered with a softer version.</p>

Numbers Game

February 8, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>In the battle to keep costs down,group medical visits are growing</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>As Dr. Chu Kwan Lau bent to examine a patient's swollen calves on a recent Wednesday morning, it sounded for all the world like a typical, routine visit.</p>

PATIENTS’ RIGHTS: MCCAIN, KENNEDY UNVEIL PLAN

February 7, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">American Health Line</p> <p>As expected, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Edward Kennedy (D- Mass.) and a coalition of Democrat and GOP lawmakers yesterday unveiled the "Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001"</p>

“Wall Street” Turns Power Solution Into Market Solution

January 31, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>As California's governor and legislators deal with the energy crisis, the statehouse has become "Wall Street West" with an invasion of New York investment bankers playing pivotal roles.</p>

HMOs underreport disputed cases

January 12, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Although the majority of California's largest HMOs require patients to submit disputes to an arbitrator, many are not reporting the cases as required by law to the state, a study released Thursday concluded.</p>

HMO dispute setup flawed, report finds

January 12, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>A state report has found that arbitration used by most health plans to resolve disputes is deeply flawed at the expense of consumers.</p>

Consumer Group Seeks End To Mandatory HMO Arbitration

January 11, 2001  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) -- A consumer group Thursday urged lawmakers to bar health maintenance organizations from forcing patients to seek arbitration in disputes.</p>

The California Patient Guide: Your Health Care Rights and Remedies

December 30, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Read and/or download the guide at this link: <a href="http://www.calpatientguide.org/">http://www.calpatientguide.org/</a><br /> <!-- excerpt --></p>