Healthcare

Aetna, Other Payers On Hot Seat For Allegedly Discriminating Against HIV Patients

December 23, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="body"> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-26c544f9-77bc-0344-41b6-750f159601e7">The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog filed a </span><a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/Dkt1Complaint121914.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lawsuit</a> Friday against Aetna in federal court in San Diego, claiming the insurer discriminated against patients with HIV.  </p>

Californians Advised To Boycott $80 Million Health System Over Privacy

December 23, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A United States consumer group is calling for Californians to boycott a US$80 million computer system underpinned by software supplied by Auckland firm Orion Health.</p> <p>Orion Health announced the California Integrated Data Exchange (Cal Index) had gone live on Monday, saying it was a major project for the company that would allow the medical records of 9 million Californians to be shared between healthcare providers.</p>

Class of Patients Fights Aetna Policy Change on Health Insurance

December 23, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SAN DIEGO (CN) - Aetna on Jan. 1 will force customers with HIV or AIDS to buy medicine from a subsidiary or pay thousands of dollars or more each month, a class action claims in Federal Court.</p> <p><br />      John Doe et al. sued Aetna, Aetna Healthcare, and Aetna Specialty Pharmacy on Dec. 19. They also claim that the new policy will invade their privacy.</p>

Health Net Accused Of ACA Plan ‘Bait And Switch’

December 22, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Law360, New York (December 22, 2014, 5:26 PM ET) -- Managed health care company Health Net of California Inc. was hit with a putative class action in California state court Friday alleging the company breached its individual health plan contracts by misprepresenting doctor availability in its Affordale Care Act plans.</p> <p>Plaintiffs allege that Health Net has misrepresented to consumers that certain physicians and hospitals are participating in its health plans when they are not and are seeking an order enjoining the health care company's alleged violations.</p>

Group Sues Aetna, Claiming Discrimination Against H.I.V. Patients

December 22, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="204" data-total-count="204" id="story-continues-1" itemprop="articleBody">A consumer group has sued the health insurer <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/aetna_inc/index.html?inline=nyt-org" title="More information about Aetna Inc">Aetna</a>, claiming that it discriminated against patients with <a href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/aids/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="In-depth reference and news articles about AIDS/H.I.V..">H.I.V.</a> when it required them to obtain medications

Patient Privacy Concerns Arise Over Cal INDEX EHR

December 18, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<h2 style="text-align: left;">Consumer Watchdog has raised concerns over a California HIE and potential patient privacy concerns.</h2>

Health Database Cal Index Must Address Privacy, Consumer Group Says

December 17, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A prominent consumer group is calling on customers of two leading health insurers to boycott a vast new database of patient medical records until privacy concerns are addressed.</p> <p>At issue is the California Integrated Data Exchange, or Cal Index, backed by $80 million from Anthem Inc. and Blue Shield of California.</p> <p>In recent weeks, the two insurance giants have sent notices to nearly half of their 9 million customers in the state advising them that their medical information will be part of the database unless they specifically opt out.</p>

Calif. Supreme Court To Hear Case Over Medical Malpractice Awards

December 2, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="block__content block--article__content" id="page_0_content_0_BlockContent"> <p style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">Last week, the California Supreme Court <a href="http://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/ws112414.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agreed to hear a case</a> challenging the constitutionality of the state's cap on pain-and-suffering awards in medical malpractice lawsuits, <a href="http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20141201/NEWS/312019935/californias-top-court-to-address-med-mal-cap-issue" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Modern Healthcare</em></a> reports.</p>

Watchdog Group Urges Brown To Audit Hospitals for Medical Errors

November 25, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

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Watchdog Group: Audit California Hospitals’ Adverse Events Reporting

November 24, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A watchdog group called on California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) to audit hospitals for <a href="http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/tags/medical-errors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medical errors</a> in the wake of a local news report that found details on such events are not readily available.</p>

Watchdog Calls For Tighter Regulation On Foster Care Prescriber Relationships With Drug Companies

November 24, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="bodytext"><span id="mn_Global"><span id="MNGiSection">Scrutiny of doctors who prescribe psychotropic drugs to California foster children intensified Monday, with growing calls for regulators to consider whether financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies may be driving the excessive use of medication.</span></span></p>

Ballot Measure Backers Spend Big, Win Big

November 6, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<h2>Issues ranging from abortion to gambling to medical marijuana go before voters</h2> <div class="body-copy-inner">