Healthcare

Deficit Commission Proposes Reducing Deficit on Backs of Injured Patients

December 2, 2010 · Carmen Balber

Consumer Watchdog joined 17 consumer and patient safety organizations today to condemn a proposal by the President’s debt commission to impose drastic limits on the rights of injured patients as a deficit-cutting measure. The groups wrote: <blockquote> The recommendation to impose cruel liability restrictions on patients injured by the medical errors of private medical workers and institutions demonstrates a significant lack of forethought about the consequences to the country’s health care system as well as its fiscal health.

Big Pharma Is Watching You

December 2, 2010 · Mark Reback

The <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/"> Federal Trade Commission</a> yesterday proposed a plan that would allow consumers to decide for themselves whether they want to allow marketers and ad agencies to track their paths on the Internet. Under the scheme, which would likely require Congressional approval, people would be able to choose a “do not track” option similar to the national “do not call” registry.

You Want to Kill Health Reform? OK, I Dare You to Repeal This

November 30, 2010 · Judy Dugan

Rep. <a href="http://ackerman.house.gov/">Gary Ackerman of New York</a>, a veteran liberal representing Brooklyn, just issued a scary/hilarious dare to the conservative incoming House leaders who are "pledging" to repeal all of the federal health reform. He's filing a series of bills during the lame duck session of Congress, each intended to repeal a popular and consumer-protective portion of the federal Patient Protection Act. The repeals will collectively be called the HIPA-CRIT Act.

‘Error-Free’ Hospitals Scrutinized

November 27, 2010 · Mark Reback

State health officials question whether a lack of reports required by a 2007 law means a lack of incidents. California public health officials are scrutinizing hospitals that claim to be error-free, questioning whether nearly 90 facilities have gone more than three years without any significant mistakes in care.

Groups Urge FTC To Probe Online Health Marketing

November 23, 2010 · Mark Reback

Four public interest groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission Tuesday urging the agency to investigate whether those offering online health information and services are engaging in unfair and deceptive advertising practices.

Equal Justice For Patients

November 9, 2010 · Jerry Flanagan

<h3> Why don't 50 million Americans have the same rights as other patients to hold their health insurer accountable for denials of care?</h3> <hr /> Insurance companies profit when they delay or deny care to patients, sometimes causing permanent harm or even death. But not all patients are equal when it comes to holding insurers legally accountable for such deeply wrongful behavior.

Health Insurers Sit Pretty At Their Customers’ Expense

November 8, 2010 · Mark Reback

'People aren't getting the care they need because they have to pay more out of pocket,' says the president of Consumer Watchdog. It's a good time to be a health insurer.

Consumer Groups Cheer, Insurance Lobby Groans As State Officials Finalize Rules On Medical-Loss Ratio

October 21, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

Insurance officials defy industry pushback, finalize key part of healthcare law

Liberal Groups Push Back Against Last-Minute Insurance Lobbying On Medical-Loss Ratio

October 20, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners is scheduled to vote Thursday on regulations governing the law's medical-loss ratio, which requires insurers to spend 80 percent to 85 percent of premiums on medical spending or activities that improve care. Liberals by and large approve of the regulations that have been adopted by several NAIC subcommittees so far but worry about intense last-minute lobbying to water them down.

Insurance industry cares, all right. About Wall Street.

October 19, 2010 · Judy Dugan

In years past, a profit result like United HealthCare's <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/united-healthcare-profit-climbs-26">26% increase in the third quarter</a> would spike the stock price. Not so on Tuesday, because insurance companies' profit rocket could, maybe, slow down next year as health reform requirements kick in. That, in a nutshell, is why the insurance industry is spending tens of millions of lobbying dollars in a battle to cripple the early consumer reforms.

Health-care Law’s Guidelines on Premiums’ Use Take Shape

October 7, 2010 · Consumer Watchdog

Consumer advocates are hoping that the commissioners or Sebelius will ultimately opt for a stricter interpretation, said Carmen Balber, Washington director of the nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog. "At the end of the day, how much money health insurers are able to exclude from the amount they have to pay on health care will determine whether or not the health law's mandate that more money go to patient care is really enacted," she said. Still, on most other questions, Balber said she was pleased with the NAIC's direction. For instance, the current draft requires insurers to meet the medical loss ratio for each separate plan they offer, rather than allowing them to lump all plans across states or types together in one aggregate calculation.

Yep, employer healthcare costs more, and it’s employees paying for it

September 2, 2010 · Judy Dugan

Corporations are shoving all of the increased cost of worker healthcare, and more, onto their employees, says <a href="http://ehbs.kff.org/">a new study. </a>And that's on top of news that companies are <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a6kXsL1Q5FYc">sitting on loads of cash while refusing to hire </a>laid-off workers. Please pass the salt to rub in our wounds.

Fairness for Injured Patients

Medical Board of California Announces Maternal Mortality Task Force

Patient Voices