Healthcare

Consumer Watchdog: Drug Test Doctors

February 8, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Should California's doctors be drug tested? "Yes," say Consumer Watchdog."</p> <p>The non-profit group is calling for mandatory drug testing for physicians in California.</p> <p>The push comes in response to news reports about doctors who over-prescribe painkillers like Vicodin.</p> <p>A recent series in the LA Times identified a number of doctors whose patients died from overdoses of prescription painkillers.</p> <p>Consumer Watchdog says California should randomly drug test all doctors who prescribe narcotics.</p>

Consumer Group Calls For Laws To Boost Monitoring Of Doctors

February 7, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>Consumer Watchdog says reforms are needed to reduce the rising number of prescription drug overdoses and to rein in incompetent and corrupt physicians.</b></p> <p>A consumer advocacy group Wednesday called for new laws to improve the state's monitoring of doctors who prescribe dangerous narcotics.</p>

HIV, AIDS Patients Upset Over Blue Cross’ New Drug Policy

January 23, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=8965849">Click here to watch the video segment of this news broadcast</a>.</p> <p><span class="storyDateline">SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- </span> Anthem Blue Cross has informed some of its members that their medications will now only be available by mail order, and that has some in the HIV/AIDS community really upset.</p>

Consumer Watchdog Files Suit Over Anthem’s Rx Program

January 16, 2013  ·  Daniel Palay

<p>Consumer Watchdog has filed a<a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/anthem_complaint.final_.1.11.13.pdf"> class-action lawsuit</a> against Anthem Blue Cross, alleging that the insurer's mail-order pharmacy program discriminates against individuals with HIV/AIDS, KQED's "<a href="http://blogs.kqed.org/stateofhealth/2013/01/15/advocacy-group-says-anthem-blue-cross-pharmacy-program-is-discriminatory/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=advocacy-group-says-anthem-blue-cross-pharmacy-program-is-discriminatory">State of Health</a>" reports.<br />

Anthem Blue Cross Sued Over New HIV/AIDS Drug Policy

January 15, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/jan/15/anthem-blue-cross-sued-over-new-hivaids-drug-polic/">Click here to listen to the broadcast of this radio news segment</a>.</p> <p>Anthem Blue Cross's new policy requiring HIV/AIDS patients to get their drugs by mail order has prompted a lawsuit charging the move is discriminatory.</p> <p>Jon Jones, which is not his real name, has a PPO plan with Anthem Blue Cross.</p>

Advocacy Group Says Anthem Blue Cross Pharmacy Program is Discriminatory

January 15, 2013  ·  Daniel Palay

<p>The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has filed a statewide <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/anthem_complaint.final_.1.11.13.pdf">class action lawsuit</a> against Anthem Blue Cross saying the health insurer is discriminating against HIV/AIDS patients.<br /> <br />

Suit Claims Blue Cross Discriminates In HIV Cases

January 15, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Blue Cross of California is being sued over a new program that bars AIDS patients from using local pharmacies to get their medications.<br /> <br /> The group Consumer Watchdog sued the insurer last week in San Diego on behalf of a patient, claiming the program discriminates against those with HIV.<br /> <br /> The program, which takes effect in March, requires patients using certain drugs to buy them from a mail order pharmacy chosen by Blue Cross. HIV patients are among those affected.<br /> <br />

Advocacy Group Says Anthem Blue Cross Pharmacy Program is Discriminatory

January 15, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has filed a statewide <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/anthem_complaint.final_.1.11.13.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">class action lawsuit</a> against Anthem Blue Cross saying the health insurer is discriminating against HIV/AIDS patients.</p>

San Diego Lawsuit Says Blue Cross Illegally Targeting HIV/AIDS Patients

January 14, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A class-action lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court alleges Blue Cross of California is illegally targeting HIV/AIDS patients and other seriously ill consumers with a new program that bars them from using local pharmacies to get their medications.</p> <p>Under the new program, HIV/AIDS patients' insurance policies will no longer cover medications at local pharmacies, according to the suit filed Friday by Consumer Watchdog, a nonpartisan consumer advocacy organization with offices in Washington, D.C., and Santa Monica.</p>

HIV Patient Says Anthem Mail-Order Drug Plan Discriminatory

January 14, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p>An HIV-positive man Friday hit California health insurer Anthem Blue Cross with a proposed consumer class action alleging the company’s plan to force patients with certain chronic diseases to obtain medications through a mail-order pharmacy is a discriminatory move that will drive up costs and threaten lives.<br /> <br />

Anthem Sued Over A Drug Rule

January 12, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>BUSINESS BRIEFINGS - HEALTHCARE:</strong></p> <p>An HIV patient in San Diego sued Anthem Blue Cross in state court, accusing California's largest for-profit insurer of violating the law by requiring certain policyholders to buy specialty drugs from a mail-order pharmacy.</p> <p>The plaintiff, who withheld his name because of his medical condition, filed suit in San Diego County Superior Court. At issue is Anthem's requirement, effective March 1, that certain patients with HIV, cancer and other serious illnesses buy specialty drugs from a mail-order pharmacy.</p>

Anthem’s Mail-Order Policy May Have Crossed A Legal Line

January 10, 2013  ·  Mark Reback

<p><b>The health insurer's requirement that some customers get their prescription drugs from a single mail-order pharmacy has caught the eye of the California attorney general's office.</b></p> <p>Anthem Blue Cross may be breaking California law by requiring some policyholders to buy their prescription drugs from a single mail-order pharmacy, according to the state attorney general's office.</p>