Healthcare

Merger Hurts Patients

June 28, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Opinion Editorial by Jamie Court</h3><p class="source">USA TODAY</p> <p>The Justice Department's approval last week of the Aetna-Prudential merger shows that Justice is indeed blind. The new Aetna will provide health care for one in every 11 Americans and will have the bulk to downsize services, hike prices and leverage docto</p>

U.S. Approves Deal For Huge Company For Managed Care

June 22, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The New York Times</p> <p>Over the objections of doctors groups and consumer advocates, the Federal Government today approved the $1 billion acquisition of Prudential Health Care by Aetna Inc., which will create the nation's biggest managed care company.</p>

Senate, Assembly OK Bills Letting Patients Sue HMOs

June 2, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press State & Local Wire</p> <p>Patients denied medically necessary treatment by their HMOs could sue the managed-care plans for damages under landmark legislation backed Wednesday by the California Legislature.</p>

Health Hazards

May 25, 1999  ·  Jamie Court

<h3>Critics Say 'Little HMOs' Bear More Risk Than They Can Afford</h3><p class="source">San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>One consumer advocate calls them "HMOitos," using the Spanish diminutive to characterize them as little HMOs. Despite the cutesy connotation, the advocate says there's nothing endearing about the growing number of mini-HMOs.</p>

Rx For Health Care: Proposed HMO Reforms Should Include Legal Liability

May 3, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Opinion Editorial of San Jose Mercury News</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>Eager to polish their image, California's health management organizations and insurers of managed care announced a package of reforms last Thursday for the Legislature's consideration. These changes would be good, but they don't go far enough.</p>

U.S. Scrutinizing Aetna Proposal to Buy Prudential Unit

April 30, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The New York Times</p> <p>Doctors and consumer advocates have flooded the Justice Department with evidence they say suggests that Aetna's plan to buy Prudential Health Care would harm competition in the health insurance industry.</p>

Hold HMOs Liable

April 28, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>San Francisco Chronicle Opinion Editorial</h3><p class="source">San Franciso Chronicle</p> <p>The threat of a lawsuit can be a powerful incentive to do the right thing, yet 14 million Californians insured through private employer health plans are denied the prerogative of a comprehensive court remedy. Because of a 1974 federal law -- the Employee</p>

Consumer Group Sues Aetna Inc.

April 20, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Consumer health care advocates opened a new front against HMOs yesterday by joining in a suit against the nation's largest health care provider, Aetna Inc., for racketeering. The lawsuit claims Aetna attracted potential customers by saying it was dedica</p>

Court Allows Suit Against HMO

April 10, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>A federal appeals court has ruled that an HMO may be sued over the quality of health care in a case in Texas, the only state that has a law permitting such claims. However, the ruling does not allow patients to sue because an HMO won't pay for a particu</p>

Senate Panel OKs Bill on HMO Liability

April 7, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Measure Would Expand Patients' Ability to Sue - Previous Attempt was Beaten Back by Former Gov. Wilson, Insurers, and Employers</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>SACRAMENTO -- A state Senate committee approved a bill Tuesday that would hold health maintenance organizations liable for interfering in the quality of care provided to 14 million Californians. The action dealt a substantial setback to the managed care</p>

Group Sues to Halt Kaiser Permanente Ads

March 18, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">New York Times</p> <p>In the latest legal attack on managed health care, a consumer advocacy group asked a California court this week to halt advertising by Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest health maintenance organization, contending that the company's advertising recru</p>

Kaiser Sued Over Ad Campaign

March 17, 1999  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>A consumer advocacy group sued Kaiser Foundation Health Plan over a television advertising campaign in which the nonprofit health maintenance organization proclaims that its doctors, not its administrators, make all decisions on patient care, basing them</p>