Healthcare

INSURERS SET TO TRADE 225,000 MEMBERS

July 15, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>UNITED HEALTHCARE, BLUE SHIELD IN DEAL</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The nation's No. 2 health insurance company plans to pass off about 225,000 members to Blue Shield of California in a deal that could boost Blue Shield's membership in the state by more than 10 percent. Under the agreement announced Friday, members of</p>

Rapid retreat; 2 Area Medicare HMOs Call It Quits

June 30, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Houston Chronicle</p> <p>Two of Houston's biggest Medicare HMOs said Thursday they will be pulling out of the market, reflecting the rapid national decline of these once-promising health plans for seniors.</p>

HMO Czar’s Bedside Manner Lauded

June 19, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The state's new HMO czar hasn't levied a single fine or issued even one formal recommendation yet, but the health plans he'll regulate and other managed care stakeholders have already passed judgment: They like him.</p>

The ‘R’ Word; Justice Souter Takes on a Health Care Taboo

June 18, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">New York Times</p> <p>WHICH side are you on?" goes an old union song. It's a question patients might be asking their doctors in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision, shielding health maintenance organizations from some lawsuits by patients in federal court. *</p>

Ruling Raises HMO Stock, But More Cases In Wing

June 14, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">USA Today</p> <p>Wall Street gave the Supreme Court's decision on managed care a thumbs up Monday, but HMOs' legal battles are far from over.</p>

Supreme Court Finds No Federal Case in HMO Lawsuit

June 13, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Wahington Times</p> <p>The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 yesterday that health maintenance organization members injured because doctors ration health care in pursuit of cash bonuses may not make a federal case of ordinary malpractice lawsuits.</p>

Ruled Called Triumph For Managed Care

June 13, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>In a decision that could prod Congress to act on health care reform, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that health maintenance organizations cannot be sued in federal court simply because they offer incentives to their doctors to reduce treatment costs.</p>

GIANT MEDICAL GROUP IS BACK IN CRISIS MODE

June 13, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">LOS ANGELES TIMES</p> <p>The giant medical practice once owned by MedPartners Inc., whose financial crisis last year disrupted care for about 1 million patients in California, is once again near bankruptcy.</p>

Court Nixes Some Lawsuits vs. HMOs

June 12, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court waded into the patients' rights debate Monday, shutting down one legal avenue for people to sue their health-maintenance organizations while Congress considers bolstering the right to sue.</p>

DOCTORS TAKE HMO FIGHT TO FEDERAL COURT

May 26, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>California doctors on Thursday launched their broadest legal assault yet on managed care, accusing three of the biggest HMOs of conspiring to keep doctors' fees low, lying to doctors and patients about the quality of care members would receive, and attemp</p>

Kaiser health plan fined for ‘systemic’ problems in ’96 death of woman

May 17, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Knight Ridder/San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>The state Department of Corporations has assessed a $1 million fine _ one of the largest ever _ against Kaiser Foundation Health Plan for "systemic" problems in its medical services that resulted in the death of a San Leandro woman in 1996.</p>

State Seeks $1 Million From Kaiser In Death

May 16, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>The state agency that regulates health plans says Kaiser Permanente should be fined $1 million for failures in providing basic health care, including emergency services, at its Hayward facility.</p>