Healthcare

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.

Stem Cell Agency Putting In For Stimulus

March 6, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Stem cell institutions may turn to the federal stimulus package to plug a financing gap for major facilities and research, said Bob Klein, chairman of California’s stem cell research funding agency. “They really need to be putting an effort on beefing up the science office rather than chasing ephemeral goals on the political stage in Washington,” said John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica group that tracks CIRM policies and spending.

Google Health “Share” Feature Raises Privacy Concerns

March 5, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Google Health has a new feature that lets users share medical information with others through an e-mail link. Google has tried to take safety measures. A link to a shared profile will only work in connection with the specified e-mail address, so the link does not work if it is forwarded. Also, all links expire after 30 days. Jamie Court, president of the Washington D.C.-based consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog doesn't think that's enough. "Doctors and hospitals have a duty to keep this information confidential, but others don’t," he told The Industry Standard. "In the hands of the wrong workplace colleague, friend or vendor, this information could be used against patients."

Supreme Court heeds the Dennis Quaid factor, sides with patients

March 4, 2009  ·  Jamie Court

<p> When Dennis Quaid went to Congress last year to testify about a threatening Supreme Court decision, it was hard to imagine the Supremes might actually listen to why consumers should able to sue drug companies over dangerous drugs when the FDA approved the label. Today's 6-3 ruling shows The Court heard Quaid, Congress and the people </p>

Even “non-profit” private insurance companies waste patients’ premiums

March 2, 2009  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> The Boston Globe reported on Friday that <a href="http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2009/02/28/blue_cross_ceos_pay_rose_26/">Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts hiked its CEO's salary to $3.5 million</a> (plus unreported bonuses that probably made it closer to $4.5 million)... </p>

Mandate could push Massachusetts patients into pro-life health plan

March 2, 2009  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> Updated 03/05/09, Caritas hospitals also refused post-rape birth control </p> <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/27/caritas_bids_to_join_state_network_of_health_insurers/">The Boston Globe</a> raises serious questions about access to family planning and abortion services with a religiously-affiliated health care plan, Caritas, that may soon provide coverage to low-income Massachusetts residents under the state’s health insurance mandate law.

Insurers Urged To Review Autism Treatment

February 25, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=6679011">Click here to watch the video clip of this news broadcast</a>. <p> Consumer Watchdog says insurers are writing the rules to deny valid treatment to children. They believe the state and governor's office support the changes. A spokesman for Governor Schwarzenegger says the governor strongly supports the independent medical review process. "If the healthcare service plans and the HMOs can get away with cutting off coverage and treatment for autistic children and their families, it's not going to be long before they do the same thing for people who have cancer or heart disease," said Harvey Rosenfield, with Consumer Watchdog. </p>

Insurers Balk At Autism Therapy – Advocates Want The State To Push Firms For Quicker Action On Complaints Over Treatment Payments

February 25, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer Watchdog in Santa Monica sent a letter to Cindy Ehnes, executive director of the state Department of Managed Health Care, and her boss, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, expressing concern about delays in resolving coverage complaints from parents of autistic children.

Advocates for Autistic Children Threaten To Sue Over HMO Guidelines

February 24, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Harvey Rosenfeld, founder of the Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog, is accusing state regulators of trying to make it easier for health plans to avoid paying for costly autism treatments that are medically necessary. Rosenfeld sent regulators a letter this week threatening to sue if that happens.

Kaiser Permanente Puts Costs Under The Knife — Pay Freeze, Layoffs Planned

February 23, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Kaiser Permanente’s regional leaders have been told to start taking a series of severe belt-tightening steps, in the wake of nearly $800 million in investment-related losses last year at the sprawling Oakland-based health-care system. Jamie Court, president of Santa Monica’s Consumer Watchdog and HMO bete noire, said it’s “shameful... and almost unfathomable” that a not-for-profit company should lose this kind of money on investments. He called on Attorney General Jerry Brown and other regulators to investigate, saying major for-profit health plans haven’t suffered losses of the same magnitude.