Healthcare

LESS PAIN, SUFFERING FOR DOCS;

July 13, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Calif. law reduces malpractice awards, fees</h3><p class="source">The Boston Herald</p> <p>"What it says is that the people with the most severe and entirely legitimate claims are having their rights severed,'' said Doug Heller, head of California's Foundation for Taxpayers & Consumer Rights.</p>

AWARDS CUT IN MEDICAL ERRORS;

July 13, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>STATE LAW LOWERS JURY VERDICTS FOR VICTIMS BY 30% TO 51%</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>"What the study indicates is that people, regardless of the legitimacy of their claim and the seriousness of their injury, are seeing their recovery arbitrarily reduced - and in some cases, quite dramatically," said Doug Heller, executive director of FTCR</p>

No resolution in California; Questions remain after Anthem-WellPoint hearing

July 12, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Modern Healthcare</p> <p>Officials with the two giant insurers pushed their case for the merger during a hearing conducted by the state's Department of Managed Health Care, which must approve the deal. The hearing included a handful of residents and consumer advocates who critic</p>

HMO Regulator Is Taking a Back Seat in Anthem Deal

July 12, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The key question left unanswered by Friday's hearing is why an agency whose only role is to oversee health plans hasn't taken the lead role in examining an acquisition that will affect California more than any other state.</p>

Golden State: HMO Regulator Is Taking a Back Seat in Anthem DealHMO Regulator Is Taking a Back Seat in Anthem Deal

July 12, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The key question left unanswered by Friday's hearing is why an agency whose only role is to oversee health plans hasn't taken the lead role in examining an acquisition that will affect California more than any other state</p>

Ruling on Anthem to Follow Review

July 10, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Other critics, led by Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, repeated charges that WellPoint had exploited a loophole to save millions of dollars in state taxes after Blue Cross switched from a nonprofit to a for-profit corporatio</p>

Garamendi Questions Costs of Deal to Buy Wellpoint

June 26, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Friday's hearing attracted about 150 people. Before it began, members of consumer organizations gathered around a roast pig on a platter. Jerry Flanagan of FTCR said it was a symbol of how "HMO executives feed at the trough."</p>

State official threatens deal

June 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Garamendi wants companies to assist the poor</h3><p class="source">Ventura County Star</p> <p>The commissioner scored political points with activists, such as the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which have been pushing regulators to extract higher concessions from the two companies in exchange for approval.</p>

Analysis: California’s insurance battles

June 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">United Press International</p> <p>HMO executives should not be allowed to feed at the trough at the expense of California patients and business owners," said Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said in the latest of its many angry statements on the merger.</p>

Health care regulatory agency to hold hearing on WellPoint merger

June 24, 2004  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>A consumer advocacy group said Wednesday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration has agreed to hold a public hearing on a pending $16.4 billion merger between Anthem Inc. and WellPoint Health Networks.</p>

A Blow to Health Plan Patients

June 23, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

With the state courts now closed off to aggrieved managed care patients, the only real remedy may lie with Congress, which has deadlocked over proposals for a patients' bill of rights for many years now. This page has long endorsed a strong patients' rights bill that would allow managed care plans to be held accountable in state courts, as doctors already are. The issue ought to be debated in the presidential campaign.

Justices limit suits against HMOs;

June 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>No damages when coverage denied for recommended care</h3><p class="source">San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Few suits have been reported under the California law. Consumer advocates, like Jamie Court of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the fear of expensive lawsuits has kept HMOs in line.</p>