Healthcare

Santa Rosa Press Democrat Editorial: Keeping The Courts Open To Injured Patients

July 20, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-10228" alt="" height="191" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/images_micra_0.jpg" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: right;" width="306" />In the spring of 1975, physicians in the Bay Area walked off the job. The strike, triggered by a fourfold increase in malpractice insurance premiums, soon spread across the state.<br /> <br /> Doctors, hospitals and patients were shaken.<br /> <br />

California Voters May Have Final Say On Medical Malpractice Awards

July 16, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/jul/15/california-voters-may-have-final-say-medical-malpr/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p><span class="dateline">California</span> — A fight over medical malpractice in California may be headed to the ballot box next year.</p> <div class="inline inline_audio_clip inline-left "> <p>California's cap on pain and suffering damages in medical malpractice cases hasn't changed in 38 years. Some say it's time for a change.</p>

Battle Flares Over 38-Year-Old Medical Malpractice Law

July 15, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Consumer advocates want to raise the cap on non-economic malpractice damages. Also: Limo safety is a priority in the Legislature; California's roads rank low.</b></p> <p>SACRAMENTO — A long-dormant conflict over medical malpractice is heating up again at the state Capitol.</p> <div class="p402_premium"> <p>A coalition of consumer advocates, trial lawyers and the nurses union is preparing to gather signatures for a state ballot initiative to raise the state's cap on certain medical malpractice damages.</p>

It’s Time To Fix California’s Outdated Medical Malpractice Law

July 10, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act of 1975 has destroyed the ability of large segments of California patients to file malpractice lawsuits.</b></p> <div id="story-body-text"> <p>It's a very rare thing for a legislator to admit that a law he sponsored hasn't worked out as expected. It's even rarer for him to label it "oppressive" and call for its revision.</p>

Campaign To Revisit Medical Malpractice Cap Heats Up

July 8, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A recent survey of California voters shows 55 percent think the $250,000 cap on non-economic damages a patient can collect due to doctor malpractice is “too high or about right.”</p> <p>One in three think the cap is too low or there should be no limit, according to a phone survey of 802 randomly selected registered voters in California likely to cast their ballots in the November 2014 election.</p>

United Healthcare sued over HIV/AIDS mail-order prescription service

June 20, 2013  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>The nation’s largest health insurance carrier is facing a lawsuit alleging its mandatory in-house mail-order prescription service illegally threatens the health and privacy of patients who have HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses.<br />  </p> <p>Public advocacy group Consumer Watchdog sued United Healthcare Insurance Co., claiming the company is forcing patients to purchase their “specialty medications” from its subsidiary OptumRx Inc. or pay “thousands of dollars or more each month” at their local retail pharmacies.</p>

Consumer Group Sues UnitedHealthcare Over Drugs

June 13, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The California advocacy group <strong>Consumer Watchdog</strong> has sued <strong>UnitedHealthcare</strong>, the nation’s largest insurer, alleging it is illegally forcing its sickest and most vulnerable members to abandon their local pharmacies in favor of United’s own in-house mail-order service.</p> <p>The mail-order rule is discriminatory under state civil rights law and threatens the health and safety of HIV/AIDS patients, the lawsuit alleges. Due to the sensitive nature of the action, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit is listed as “John Doe.”</p>

United Healthcare Sued for Discriminating Against HIV/AIDS Patients

June 11, 2013  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p><em><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2776" alt="" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/images_rxmarketing.jpg" style="width: 211px; height: 143px; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px; float: right;" width="430" height="292" />Santa Monica, CA</em>.

United Healthcare Sued Over HIV/AIDS Mail Order Drug Service

June 11, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/jun/11/united-healthcare-sued-over-program-requiring-hiva/">Click here to listen to the audio segment of this radio broadcast</a>.</p>

UnitedHealthcare Sued Over HIV Mail-Order Prescription Service

June 11, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><span class="storyDateline">LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- </span> The nation's largest health insurance carrier is being sued over its handling of prescriptions for HIV/AIDS patients.</p> <p>Consumer Watchdog is suing UnitedHealthcare, claiming the insurance company is forcing HIV patients to abandon their pharmacies in favor of United's own mail-order prescription service. The group and local pharmacists say it's putting patients' health at risk.</p>

HIV Patients Fight Mail-Order Drug Program

June 11, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>LOS ANGELES (CN) - United Healthcare Insurance subjects thousands of HIV-positive Californians to "potentially life-threatening" delays by making them get their prescription drugs through the mail, a class action claims in Federal Court.</p> <p>John Doe sued United Healthcare Insurance, mail order pharmacy OptumRx, Pacificare Life and Health Insurance, and UnitedHealth Group on five counts, including unfair competition, breach of faith and violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act.</p>

Clovis Couple Seeks Repeal of Malpractice Payout Caps

June 9, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A Clovis couple has joined a statewide coalition to repeal a 38-year-old California law that caps medical malpractice damages for pain and suffering.</p> <p>Doug and Linda Wilkinson say the law, which limits non-economic compensation to $250,000, is an injustice to families who have lost loved ones.</p> <p>Their daughter, Brittany Wilkinson, an advocate for the disabled, died in September 2009 at Children's Hospital Central California, allegedly after a procedure to clamp two shunts that had been placed to drain fluid buildup in her brain. She was 18.</p>