Healthcare

QUOTE OF THE DAY

November 29, 1999  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">American Health Line</p> <p>"At least the industry now believes it has something to prove to the public rather than simply being interested in proving to Wall Street that it can limit costs and make a profit" -- HMO critic Jamie Court on a recently-released AAHP memo.</p>

Insurers’ group wins praise with a frank ‘call to action’

November 29, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">USA TODAY</p> <p>WASHINGTON -- A major health insurers' trade group is winning cautious praise, even from some staunch HMO critics, for admitting that industry practices contributed to the managed-care backlash.</p>

HMO INDUSTRY: AAHP URGES MEMBERS TO CONSIDER CHANGE

November 29, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">American Health Line</p> <p>A memo from the head of the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP) states that health insurers have "themselves to blame" for the public backlash against managed care</p>

Making A Killing: HMOs and the Threat to Your Health — Book Review

November 22, 1999  ·  Jamie Court

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Huntington Beach, Calif.-Based Firm Offers Online Shopping for Surgery

November 17, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Orange County Register</p> <p>HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA -- You'll soon be able to put your plastic surgery out to bid on the Internet. Health Website Medicine Online will allow a consumer to post a request for plastic surgery, vision correction or foot surgery at: www.medicineonline.com</p>

Wall Street: Does Market Power Improve Care Quality?

November 12, 1999  ·  Jamie Court

<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>

State Office to Help California Patients Maneuver Through Complicated System

November 11, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Health care experts said the state's new patient rights office should handle complaints about HMOs, put out an annual HMO report card and fight for California residents' health care rights. <br>Assemblyman Martin Gallegos, D-Baldwin Park, was co-author</p>

Quality Is Now A Factor In HMO Care

November 11, 1999  ·  Jamie Court

<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>

Making a Killing: HMOs and the Threat to Your Health

November 10, 1999  ·  Jamie Court

If a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is your family’s medical provider, just hope you never face a medical crisis. This compelling book tells story after...

Clinton Praises HMO’s Move

November 10, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<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>

Key Health Plan Halts Reviews of Doctor Decisions

November 9, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Action by United HealthCare, Which Covers 800,000 Californians, Would Eliminate Pre-Authorizations For Patients</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>In a dramatic sign that health plans are moving away from the tight controls and bottom-line incentives that have characterized much of managed care over the last decade, the nation's second-largest health insurer said Monday that it will quit interfering</p>

HMO to Leave Care Decisions Up to Doctors

November 9, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<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>