Healthcare

US Medicare HMO/PBM political funds slammed

November 11, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Pharma Marketletter</p> <p>"Under the current program, seniors and taxpayers will pay too much for prescription drugs by being forced to subsidize HMO and drug company profits," stated FTCR spokesman David Fink, who called on Congress to "untie the hands of the federal government and allow the Medicare program to use its market clout to negotiate cheaper drugs."</p>

Family fights an HMO for 4-year-old’s life

November 5, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"When you have to fly a patient out to the East Coast, it is the fundamental HMO no-no,'' says Jamie Court, a Santa Monica-based health care advocate and co-author of "Making a Killing,'' a book on the health care system. "It is the M.O. of health care providers to deny access to expensive treatments. They give you the runaround and hope you go away.''</p>

How Many Doctors Should Be Blamed?;

October 23, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>A mother whose daughter died after Kaiser physicians missed her cancer is fighting to change a law that let the HMO report only one of the practitioners to the state.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Some are not reassured by this. "The medical board hasn't had a great record of being aggressive about consumer complaints," said Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica advocacy group active on health issues. "There's a sense the Medical Board is too close to physicians."</p>

Financial Nightmare Of Hidden Hospital Fees

October 11, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">KGO-TV7 (ABC) San Francisco</p> <p>Jamie Court, consumer activist: "If you have doctors and nurses on the payroll in the building and they go to the emergency room, one floor down, that isn't worth $12,000."</p>

Taxpayer group asks Schwarzenegger to return insurance donation

October 11, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Schwarzenegger is campaigning for measures on the Nov. 8 special election ballot that he says will save taxpayers money, yet vetoed a bill that would have saved taxpayers millions of dollars, said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. The governor has come under fire in the past for accepting contributions from groups with business before the state, including the pharmaceutical, energy and insurance industries.</p>

105K for a Veto (Give it Back, Gov)

October 10, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">For weeks, Arnold sat with SB 399 on his desk. The bill would have ended a taxpayer subsidy of the insurance industry in which government health programs pay the medical costs of car accidents...</font>

A Radical Healthcare Solution

October 6, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>It shouldn't be surprising that solutions once dismissed out of hand are suddenly getting a closer look. The most appealing is a single-payer system, which would replace today's jigsaw puzzle of private insurance, public programs and nothing with a government-run healthcare program. In California, that option is being pushed by state Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), who says she senses growing, albeit still insufficient, support around the state after three years of proselytizing.</p>

No Disclosure

October 5, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">When he campaigned for governor, Arnold promised to bring sunshine to Sacramento and embrace full disclosure by politicians. But the ads for the gov's initiative agenda don't even disclose what...</font>

Frist Addresses Sale of Stock in Family’s Healthcare Company;

September 27, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The Senate majority leader's divestment before a price drop faces two federal probes. SEC Chairman Cox will not take part in the inquiry.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Frist said that his only objective in selling was "to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest." Last year, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica watchdog group, complained to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics that because the Senate votes on legislation that could enrich HCA, Frist should not hold its shares. The committee dismissed the complaint, saying there was no conflict under Senate rules.</p>

Businesses Could Be Key to Health Care Reform

September 26, 2005  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">KPCC 89.3FM (Pasadena, CA)</p> <p>So what can we do? As a start, why not give all Californians access to the same policies state politicians and employees have? The California Public Employees Retirement System (CALPERS) has a policy that bypasses insurers. Doctors and hospitals contract directly with the state -- cutting out insurers' hefty profits and making the plan more affordable.</p>

Senate Leader Explains His Sale of a Stock That Then Plummeted

September 22, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The New York Times</p> <p>On Wednesday, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights of Santa Monica, Calif., said it sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission asking for an investigation of the sale.</p>

Frist sells stock in family-founded HCA

September 21, 2005  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Gannett News Service</p> <p>The president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said he thought Frist should recuse himself from voting on the malpractice legislation as it makes its way through Congress, because his family still stands to benefit from it even if he no longer does.</p>