Healthcare

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>

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">

Efforts To Crack Down On Doctor Negligence, Drug Use Will Continue, Prop. 46 Proponent Says

November 5, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>California voters nixed efforts Tuesday by a consumer group and trial attorneys to lift the cap on pain-and-suffering damages in medical malpractice lawsuits — but proponents say they will keep on fighting.</p> <p>Proposition 46 was defeated by a margin of 67.1 percent to 32.9 percent. The actual vote count was 3,415,996 "No" votes to 1,671,163 "Yes" votes, according to figures from the <strong>California Secretary of State</strong>.</p>

Voters Reject Proposition 46

November 5, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>LOS ANGELES -- Proposition 46, a wide-ranging initiative that included raising the 1975 limit on pain and suffering damages in medical malpractice lawsuits, was defeated today.</p> <p>Proposition 46 author Bob Pack said the campaign on behalf of the initiative "opened the eyes of all Californians about patient safety," but "faced deep-pocketed opposition from the insurance industry."</p> <p>"At least in this election, insurance industry profits trumped patient safety," Pack said.</p>

Election 2014: Voter Apathy, Money In Strange Mix

November 4, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Voters may be apathetic on Election Day, but there are some people in California who are excited indeed about the ballot – those who have a big pocketbook interest in the outcome.</p> <p>Through Tuesday morning, campaign spending on six ballot propositions alone has approached a quarter-billion dollars, a hefty price tag, even in California. Meanwhile, pre-election polls predicted a record low turnout.</p>

Government Sues Honeywell Over Required Testing, Fines In Wellness Program

November 3, 2014  ·  Mark Reback

<p>MINNEAPOLIS — Federal officials are challenging new benefit rules at Honeywell Inc. that create monetary penalties unless employees and spouses take medical tests.</p> <div> <p>A lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in response to complaints from two Minnesota employees sets up a potential court case over how far employers can go to shift health costs and influence worker behavior.</p>