Healthcare

Influential coalition backs universal health care;

February 7, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Players Urge Compromise, Quick Action</h3><p class="source">The San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica-based consumer group, suggested that the motive of at least some of the coalition's members was to prevent state regulation of health insurance rates. "Any universal reform that includes private insurers must require them to justify current rates and proposed premium charges," the foundation said in a letter to Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland. "California needs an effective regulatory review like that required of auto and property/ casualty insurers...."</p>

Erlanger increasing executives’ salaries 3.5 percent to 36.5 percent

January 28, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Chattanooga Times and Free Press (Tennessee)</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, health care policy director for the Santa Monica, Calif.-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said hospitals are in an "arms race" as they keep increasing salaries to stay competitive. And this is money that could be spent on patient care, he said. "When we spend more on salaries, patients are in effect spending more of their dollar for overhead," he said.</p>

GOV. OFFERS BOLD PRESCRIPTION — $12-BILLION PROPOSAL

January 9, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>All Californians would be required to carry medical insurance. Critics include doctors, hospitals, insurers and some legislators.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Because so many parts of Schwarzenegger's plan hinge on one another, deleting the areas of greatest disagreement could unravel the entire plan. "Health insurance reform is as delicate as an egg," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation of Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa-Monica based watchdog group. "One little crack and the egg is lost."</p>

Stem cell institute misses chance to build support

January 9, 2007  ·  John M. Simpson

<p class="source">The Oakland Tribune</p> <p>No useful purpose is served by CIRM's penchant for secrecy. It should disclose who applied and their affiliation, enabling all concerned to track awards and dispel worries about favoritism. Knowing who applied for money and didn't get it can be more revealing sometimes than knowing who did. Scientists need to develop thicker skins if they want to use public money for their work, and CIRM needs to let the sun shine in. Bottom line: They want our money. They must tell us who they are and ask for it in public.</p>

Stem cell institute misses chance to build support

January 9, 2007  ·  John M. Simpson

<p class="source">The Oakland Tribune</p> <p>No useful purpose is served by CIRM's penchant for secrecy. It should disclose who applied and their affiliation, enabling all concerned to track awards and dispel worries about favoritism. Knowing who applied for money and didn't get it can be more revealing sometimes than knowing who did. Scientists need to develop thicker skins if they want to use public money for their work, and CIRM needs to let the sun shine in. Bottom line: They want our money. They must tell us who they are and ask for it in public.</p>

Health Insurance for All Californians;

January 8, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Governor Schwarzenegger wants all Californians required to buy health insurance. Health plans would prohibit insurance companies from rejecting applicants for age or medical condition.</h3><p class="source">"Which Way L.A.?" - KCRW 89.9FM - National Public Radio (Los Angeles, CA)</p> <p>Today's plan may be ambitious, but it comes just a day after another proposal, which could do harm to some of the same people the medical plan is supposed to help. The Governor wants a rollback of welfare payments, including a cutoff to tens of thousands of children whose parents don't meet certain requirements. We hear more on a plan the Governor says "will make history," and ask if cuts in welfare would take away with one hand what he says he'll give with the other? </p>

Demand Reform, Governor;

January 6, 2007  ·  Judy Dugan

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Not only is Schwarzenegger immune to most people's struggles with insurers, he's also enjoyed nearly $1 million in direct political contributions from them, according to public contribution reports. It is this political relationship that should worry Californians hoping for real healthcare reform. Insurance companies, after all, will spend whatever it takes and call in every favor they're owed to stop reforms that restrict their profits, curb their extravagant overhead or limit what they can pay their chief executives.</p>

Demand reform, governor;

January 5, 2007  ·  Judy Dugan

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Not only is Schwarzenegger immune to most people's struggles with insurers, he's also enjoyed nearly $1 million in direct political contributions from them, according to public contribution reports. It is this political relationship that should worry Californians hoping for real healthcare reform. Insurance companies, after all, will spend whatever it takes and call in every favor they're owed to stop reforms that restrict their profits, curb their extravagant overhead or limit what they can pay their chief executives.</p>

Dining for Dollars

January 3, 2007  ·  Judy Dugan

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's very private lunch Friday night with ...</font>

Assembly speaker proposes healthcare plan;

December 22, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>State Assembly speaker says more employers should help pay for medical insurance.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, health director with the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said insurance profits and administrative expenses are the primary accelerators of healthcare costs. "We need to eliminate waste before we require people to buy health insurance," Flanagan said.</p>

Health industry gives to governor’s inauguration fund;

December 16, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Donations coincide with planning for revamp of system</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Some critics noted that the big contributions from the health care industry come at the same time Schwarzenegger is at work on his plan for reforming the state's health care system."Two industries that have the most to gain or lose in the next year -- real estate and health care -- are trying to protect their profits," said Carmen Barber, a spokeswoman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. Judy Dugan, also from the consumer group, said that raising big money from corporate interests conflicts with Schwarzenegger's early promises as a candidate during the 2003 recall election to sweep special interests out of Sacramento.</p>

This Just In!

December 16, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="Verdana,helvetica,Arial"><br/> </font> <!-- body text starts --><!-- startbodytext --> <font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">An update to our <a href="http://www.arnoldwatch.org//blogs/blogs_000939.php3"> previous...</a> </font>