Healthcare

Health insurers fake senior support

April 14, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> According to <a href="http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_103032149.html">this story</a> in the Massachusetts-based Eagle-Tribune the health insurance industry lobbying group, America's Health Insurance Plans, is trying to get local newspapers to run fake letters from senior citizens that contain glowing praise for the insurance industry's Medicare Advantage plans. </p>

Is Washington even listening on health reform?

April 7, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/opinion/07tue1.html">lead editorial</a> in the New York Times today neatly sums up what health non-profits, informed patients and consumer advocates are seeking in health care reform, a "public option" to provide a sort of free-market alternative to the unbeloved private insurance companies. Yet at the same time, the Senate's lead developer on health reform, Sen. Max Baucus, is demanding more "compromise" with opponents of that public option (see below). Who's reflecting what Americans need? </p>

White House needs to get tough on health care costs

April 6, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

"Prevention" was the word of morning at the White House Western forum on health care reform in downtown LA. Led by Oprah's Dr. Oz, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire, the assembled "stakeholders" rattled off how prevention pays in health care.

Price Of Care

April 4, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

As medical costs soar, and hospitals charge more and recoup less for their services, consumer advocates worry that patients - particularly the increasing numbers of underinsured - are getting caught in the middle, stuck with confusing medical bills they can't possibly pay. "We don't have any kind of planning, oversight or rationalization to pricing," said Jerry Flanagan, health policy director for Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog. "As doctors, hospitals and insurance companies are warring, patients wind up paying more."

What Obama can learn from Arnold

April 3, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Monday Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose own attempts at statewide health care reform failed last year, hosts a White House summit in L.A. on national reforms. It's not likely to be talked about but Obama can learn alot from Schwarzenegger's failure. </p>

FRONTLINE on healthcare system not to be missed

April 3, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Last night's FRONTLINE TV program on PBS about America's broken healthcare system was outstanding and is worth watching whether you're a concerned citizen or the head of the Senate Finance Committee... Fortunately, it's available online. Click <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundamerica/view/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here to watch it</a>.

What “rationing” really means

April 3, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> The early messengers of health-care doom and socialism aren't looking so good. Start with Rick Scott, the disgraced former head of fraud-ridden health care company Columbia/HCA. Then there's Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, who huffily says he only wants to protect Americans from government-determined health care, but is near the top Congressional recipients of health insurance and pharmaceutical bucks. Here's the gist from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/us/politics/02scott.html?">today's New York Times story on Scott,</a> who left HCA in shame but with hundreds of millions in company stock. </p>

Consumer Advocate Jamie Court Cites Risks Of Electronic Medical Records

March 31, 2009  ·  Jamie Court

Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, has pushed the patients' rights movement in the United States for more than a decade by sponsoring successful laws in California. As part of his work for the California-based nonprofit, Court is closely watching Google's and Microsoft's entry into the electronic medical records field. He spoke with The Plain Dealer about patient privacy and his concerns in the digital age.

Single-Payer Health Bill Introduced In U.S. Senate As Fiscal Savings Measure

March 28, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Members of Congress have been heavily lobbied by the health care industry. Since 2005, the insurance industry has donated $2.2 million and drug companies donated more than $3.3 million to Congress members influential in shaping health care policy, according to Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group based in California.

Stem Cell Institute Puts 2 In Same Post — Joint Appointment For Vice Chairman

March 13, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Job sharing came to the state stem cell institute yesterday when its board appointed two people to the post of vice chairman: San Diego biotechnology veteran Duane Roth and Art Torres, a former state senator and outgoing chairman of the Democratic Party. “I think the concept of this is a little bizarre and is all about trying to curry favor with the different political factions in the state,” said John Simpson, of the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog in Santa Monica. “It's not clear to me how it will bring any benefit or focus to the organization itself.” </p>

Insurance Setback For Autism Patients

March 10, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>California regulators decline to require carriers to pay for a behavior therapy that is gaining recognition.</strong> </p> <p> Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica advocacy organization, said the department might have crossed the line on "underground rule-making" by trying to change the rules by letter rather than through the formal adoption of regulations, which is a public process.  "This is a state agency winking at the HMOs and inviting them to deny claims to autistic children," Rosenfield said. "This is going to be a license to steal for the HMOs, and they are giving it away without even holding a hearing, which is just an outrage, and also, I think, illegal." </p>

Montana Senator Takes Center Stage On Healthcare — Democrat Baucus Fills Leadership Void

March 10, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

With growing prominence, Baucus has also faced heightened scrutiny; the Consumer Watchdog group listed him as the top Democratic recipient of contributions from insurers and drug companies, though he has defied both industries on a litany of issues over the years, including in his reform blueprint.