Healthcare

‘Hummer in every pot’ healthcare

April 8, 2006  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>If California wants genuine universal health insurance, it is going to have to do the hard work of restraining the healthcare system's waste, inefficiency and profiteering. But that would entail angering interest groups that finance politicians' elections. The uninsured and underinsured don't attend fundraisers or make political contributions. And, of course, politicians' own health coverage is paid by taxpayers. No wonder they don't understand the problem in making a working family choose between rent and insurance. </p>

‘Hummer in every pot’ healthcare

April 8, 2006  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>If California wants genuine universal health insurance, it is going to have to do the hard work of restraining the healthcare system's waste, inefficiency and profiteering. But that would entail angering interest groups that finance politicians' elections. The uninsured and underinsured don't attend fundraisers or make political contributions. And, of course, politicians' own health coverage is paid by taxpayers. No wonder they don't understand the problem in making a working family choose between rent and insurance.</p>

Analysis: Mass. adopts pay for performance

April 7, 2006  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p class="source">UPI - United Press International</p> <p>Pay-for-performance systems can play a needed watchdog role, but also must be carefully crafted to avoid giving healthcare providers the wrong incentives, Jerry Flanagan with FTCR said. "When the government provides a stream of money, you should also have a checking system to ensure that it's used efficiently and in the patients' best interest."</p>

Stem cell institute maps out strategy;

April 7, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Plan will determine how $3 billion spent</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Taxpayer advocates agreed. "This is the most important thing they are doing right now and since the public is paying the bill, it should be hammered out in public," said John Simpson, of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Get the Pork Out of Health Insurance

March 22, 2006  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p> <a href="/healthcare/PigPeople"> <img src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/images_ppo_anim_click.gif" border="0" hspace="3" vspace="3" width="150" height="112" align="right"/></a> </p> <p> Health insurance premiums are increasing 250% faster than hospital and...</p>

Junk Health Insurance

March 22, 2006  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p> California and 41 states passed tough HMO Patients' Bill of Rights laws because Congress refused to act. Now, a President Bush-backed plan would take those protections away and allow HMOs and insurers to replace real coverage with junk policies. </p> <p>   </p>

Health Care Town Halls

March 22, 2006  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p>Patients, employers, nurses, doctors, and hospital administrators have the most significant opportunity in decades to unite and build a universal health care system for all Californians. Watch a series of statewide town hall meetings...</p>

Cal Medicare and Universal Health Care

March 18, 2006  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<h2>Play a Video Game, Win Universal Health Care</h2>

Commerce Clause and Health

March 14, 2006  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Marketplace Radio Program (NPR)</p> <p>Last week, the House of Representatives passed legislation stopping states from having food-warning labels that are tougher than federal standards. This Wednesday, a Senate committee will vote on a bill that allows health insurers to ignore state benefit requirements. Commentator and consumer advocate Jamie Court says more at stake here than states' rights. </p>

Commerce Clause and Health

March 14, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Marketplace Radio Program (NPR)</p> <p>Last week, the House of Representatives passed legislation stopping states from having food-warning labels that are tougher than federal standards. This Wednesday, a Senate committee will vote on a bill that allows health insurers to ignore state benefit requirements. Commentator and consumer advocate Jamie Court says more at stake here than states' rights. </p>

HEALTH ACCOUNTS ON RISE;

March 12, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>BUT SAVINGS PROGRAM COULD BACKFIRE, EXPERTS SAY </h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>"They (HSAs) are sold as Band-Aids, but in essence they put salt in wounds," said Jerry Flanagan, consumer advocate at the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. "That's why I look at HSAs as a cost-management issue that keeps people from using care."</p>

Broken contract talks not new for Blue Cross

March 4, 2006  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">North County Times (San Diego, CA)</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, health care policy director with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, blamed "greedy" Blue Cross, saying the company has a history of hiding rapidly increasing profits as unneeded reserves and spending a smaller percentage of the health insurance premiums it collects on treating patients and health care than other insurers.</p>