Consumer Watchdog

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Consumer Watchdog

Healthcare

Healthcare and patient-safety coverage — medical negligence, prescription drug prices, and your right to quality, affordable care.
Wall Street: Does Market Power Improve Care Quality?

Wall Street: Does Market Power Improve Care Quality?

<p class="source">American Health Line</p> <p>An op-ed in today's Los Angeles Times applauds the "extraordinary" move by UnitedHealth Group allowing doctors to make "medical necessity decisions," calling it "a tribute to the growing HMO accountability movement and the shift on Wall Street that it</p>
Quality Is Now A Factor In HMO Care

Quality Is Now A Factor In HMO Care

<h3>Opinion Editorial by Jamie Court and Frank Smith</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>This week's extraordinary announcement by the UnitedHealth Group that it will let practicing physicians make medical necessity decisions is a tribute to the growing HMO accountability movement and the shift on Wall Street that it has provoked.</p>
Clinton Praises HMO’s Move

Clinton Praises HMO’s Move

<p class="source">Orlando Sentinel</p> <p>United Healthcare Corp.'s groundbreaking decision to give doctors final authority over patient care won high praise from President Clinton on Tuesday and will likely give the health insurer a key marketing edge with consumers.</p>
HMO to Leave Care Decisions Up to Doctors

HMO to Leave Care Decisions Up to Doctors

<h3>UnitedHealthcare Has 14.5 Million Clients</h3><p class="source">Washington Post</p> <p>UnitedHealthcare, one of the nation's largest managed-care companies, said yesterday that it will stop overruling doctors' decisions about what care patients should receive.</p>
Big H.M.O. to Give Decisions on Care Back to Doctors

Big H.M.O. to Give Decisions on Care Back to Doctors

<p class="source">New York Times</p> <p>The United Health Group said yesterday that it was returning decision-making power over patient care to physicians, breaking with a longstanding element of managed care that has infuriated many doctors and frustrated their patients.</p>