Healthcare

California Sets New Standards

October 11, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Chain Drug Review</p> <p>SACRAMENTO, CA -- California, which has been a leader both in the development of the managed care industry and in the regulation of that sector of health care, is implementing new laws that will allow patients to file lawsuits against health maintenance o</p>

JUSTICES TO HEAR CHALLENGE TO HMO SHIELD

September 29, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>CASE IS ONE OF SEVERAL INVOLVING RESPONSIBILITY FOR INJURIES TO PATIENTS. LOWER COURT UPHELD RIGHT TO SUE DESPITE FEDERAL BAR.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Patients and the managed health care industry will soon face off in the U.S. Supreme Court over whether patients can sue a health plan that puts its bottom line ahead of patient care. The high court announced Tuesday that it will hear a case in which a</p>

Trailblazing California Broadens the Rights of its H.M.O. Patients

September 28, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">New York Times</p> <p>Gov. Gray Davis signed a package of bills today that will give patients a variety of new rights in their relationship with health maintenance organizations in California and could well influence managed health care coverage across the country.</p>

New Law Allows Californians to Sue Health Care Insurance Providers

September 27, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>SHOW: CNN THE WORLD TODAY 20:00 pm ETTranscript # 99092710V23</h3><p class="source">CNN</p> <p>California governor Gray Davis signed legislation earlier today allowing many patients to sue health insurers if they can prove they've been harmed by decisions about treatment. The reform package also entitles patients to appeal denials of treatment to i</p>

California Tilts Power Toward Patients

September 24, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Christian Science Monitor</p> <p>In an ambitious health-care reform package expected to spur similar changes nationwide, California will soon offer medical consumers a wide range of new benefits - including access to second medical opinions and the right to sue health-maintenance organiz</p>

Ambitious Plan to Reform HMOs Nears Completion

September 10, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Legislature: Measures Would Ease Access to Second Opinions and Grant New Power to Appeal Decisions, As Well As Mandate Coverage for Severe Mental Illnesses.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>SACRAMENTO, CA -- In a day of frantic lawmaking that could dramatically affect the health care of virtually every Californian, legislators Thursday completed most of an ambitious state plan to reform managed care.</p>

State Close to Allowing Suits Against HMOS

September 9, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>SACRAMENTO -- The first of long-promised reforms for the troubled managed health care industry overwhelmingly cleared the Assembly on Wednesday, one that would enable 14 million Californians to sue their health care providers for damages.</p>

California Legislature OKs HMO Bill

September 9, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>SACRAMENTO -- Californians would gain the right to sue their health insurers and new insurance benefits under measures approved by the Legislature Thursday and sent to the governor. The right to sue, one of the most contentious proposals, won Senate appr</p>

Assembly backs giving consumers right to sue HMOs for damages

September 8, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Patients who suffer substantial harm from a health insurer's decision to delay or deny treatment would gain the right to sue under a bill backed Wednesday by the Assembly.</p>

Newly Released List of Managed Care Complaints Stirs Debate

August 30, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>SACRAMENTO -- The findings are sure to spark a political firefight. New state figures show that more than 23.5 million people are enrolled in California's managed health care plans, but only a scant few - a mere nine-thousandths of a single percent -</p>

Reforming HMOs while deforming our beleaguered tort system

August 25, 1999  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Last week, the HMO industry launched another multimillion-dollar advertising blitz to stop a bipartisan congressional compromise for HMO patients' rights.</p>

Protection plan for HMO users unveiled

August 19, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Patients' rights would include independent review when care is denied.</h3><p class="source">THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER</p> <p>Gov. Gray Davis on Wednesday outlined a sweeping proposal to overhaul the way managed-care health plans do business in California.</p>