Healthcare Archives

Californians To Receive Health Insurance Rebates, But Some Call It Chump Change

July 24, 2014 · Mark Reback

Nearly 500,000 consumers across California will receive a piece of a $12 million refund from health insurance companies this summer as part of a provision under the Affordable Care Act, the <a href="http://http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2014pres/07/20140724a.html">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a> said Thursday.

Why I Support Prop 45: 70% Rate Increase Since 2011 to $1,764 Per Month

July 22, 2014 · rob

“After I pay huge monthly premiums Blue Cross redefines the only medication I use so they don’t have to pay.”

Democratic Party Leaders Endorse Proposition 45

July 14, 2014 · Mark Reback

Following heavy lobbying from both sides, the California Democratic Party’s executive board has voted to endorse Proposition 45, a measure to give the state insurance commissioner regulatory power over health insurance rates.

Marin Policyholders Applaud Suit Alleging Anthem Blue Cross Misrepresented Obamacare Plans

July 14, 2014 · Mark Reback

Several Marin customers of Anthem Blue Cross Monday cheered on the efforts of a consumer watchdog group that has sued the California-based insurance giant for allegedly misrepresenting its new "Obamacare" plans.

Santa Monica Consumer Watchdog Files Suit Against Anthem Blue Cross

July 10, 2014 · Mark Reback

<div> Anthem Blue Cross misrepresented the size of its physician and hospital networks in an effort to bolster sales during the Affordable Care Act enrollment period, according to a lawsuit announced on Wednesday. The suit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court by Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog, contends the insurer also concealed the fact that its new PPO plans had higher deductibles for out-of-network care than advertised.

Lawsuit Alleges Anthem Blue Cross Overstated Doctors, Hospitals in Network

July 10, 2014 · Mark Reback

Bait and switch? A consumer group is going after one of the state's largest health providers. A class action lawsuit has been filed that alleges Anthem Blue Cross tried to inflate its market share by overstating the number of doctors and hospitals in its network during the open enrollment period for Obamacare.

Anthem Hit With False Ad Class Action Over ACA Plans

July 9, 2014 · Mark Reback

Wellpoint Inc. subsidiary Anthem Blue Cross Life & Health Insurance Co. was slapped with a proposed false advertising class action in California court on Tuesday alleging the insurer misled consumers regarding details of individual health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act.

29% Rate Hike and 30% Copay to Keep Access to Providers

July 2, 2014 · rob

“My total out of pocket expenses for medical care in the past 12 months have been staggering.”

Two Health Care Measures Make Ballot Deadline for November, Two Others Held

June 30, 2014 · Mark Reback

<div class="block__content block--article__content" id="page_0_content_0_BlockContent"> California Secretary of State Debra Bowen last week announced six initiatives have qualified for the November ballot -- two of them health-related. The deadline for ballot qualification was June 26. Proponents of two other health-related measures had hoped to make the November 2014 election, but the Secretary of State's office is holding them pending signature verification. If they have enough valid signatures, they will qualify for the November 2016 ballot.

VICTORY!! Federal Employee HIV Drug Discrimination

June 16, 2014 · Jerry Flanagan

Over the weekend, one of our federal employee "John Doe" clients received a nice surprise from his health<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2776" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/images_rxmarketing.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 136px; float: right;" width="430" height="292" /> insurer: the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association ("BCBS") will no longer charge higher (discriminatory) co-pays for HIV drugs and has taken HIV drugs off its mandatory mail-order drug list, which threatened patient health, safety, and privacy.

Is Your Doctor Stoned? Physicians With Substance Abuse Problems Continue To Work

June 16, 2014 · Mark Reback

We trust doctors with our lives. They’re supposed to take care of us. But physicians are only human. Government studies indicate at least 100,000 doctors — or about one in 10 currently working — is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Some are performing surgeries while stoned, injuring and even killing unsuspecting patients, according to TODAY national investigative correspondent Jeff Rossen, who found numerous cases of doctors busted for substance abuse.

SEIU Vows To Boost Criticism Of Hospitals Resisting Partnership

June 14, 2014 · Mark Reback

On a leaked internal call, an SEIU leader pledges to boost criticism of holdouts. Shortly after reaching a truce with much of the hospital industry last month, California's largest healthcare union vowed to step up its criticism of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and two hospital chains that balked at the agreement. On an internal conference call leaked to the media, a leader of the Service Employees International Union lashed out at the three holdouts and talked about using the new deal to bring them "to heel."

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Medical Board of California Announces Maternal Mortality Task Force

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