Healthcare

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>

High court ruling impairs patients’ rights to sue HMOs

June 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Diego Union Tribune</p> <p>"Now there is no longer a legal deterrent to HMOs that cut cost corners by overriding physicians' decisions," said Jerry Flanagan, a spokesman for FTCR. "It was the threat of legal liability that made HMOs less likely to deny care in the first place."</p>

Supreme Court rules patients who claim their HMOs wouldn’t pay for needed medical care cannot sue for big malpractice damages.

June 21, 2004  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<p class="source">San Bernardino Sun (San Bernardino, CA)</p> <p>"Basically what this says is that in California, if a patient is denied care by an HMO and suffers some harm or becomes ill because they didn't receive that care, their only recourse is to sue their HMO in federal court, not state court," said Jerry Flana</p>

Aetna, Cigna win Supreme Court ruling on HMO suits

June 21, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CBS MarketWatch.com</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, or FTCR, accused President Bush of creating a double standard for certain employees and violating campaign promises.</p>

Health Giants Seek to Calm Critics;

June 19, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Insurers Anthem and WellPoint are working on a way to placate foes of their combination.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, a spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said neither the Blue Cross association rules nor Anthem's pledges guaranteed that the cash would stay in California.</p>

WellPoint & Anthem Merger Would Allow Company to Remove $650 Million From CA

June 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Give Lip Service to Patient Protections</h3> <p>The secret details of on-going negotiations between state regulators and WellPoint executives in the pending merger between WellPoint Health Networks Inc. and Anthem Inc., made public today by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, are ridden wi</p>

OPINIONS/EDITORIAL – State of state’s health care:

June 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Argus (Fremont, CA)</p> <p>Californians need help as well from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The governor has taken $300,000 from the pharmaceutical industry. But he has enormous political clout, and took office as a reformer, a man of the people.</p>

Will Arnold Listen to State’s Largest Health Care Purchaser?

June 15, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The California Public Employees Retirement System or CALPERS, the largest purchaser of health care in the state, announced today it would oppose the acquisition of Wellpoint Health Systems by...</font>

Sued a Physician, Did You? The Doctor Won’t See You Now;

June 13, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<h3>Ethics collapse over malpractice insurance cost.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>A resolution to be voted on by the AMA's House of Delegates would make it ethical for physicians to refuse to treat plaintiffs' attorneys and their spouses, except in emergency situations and as otherwise required by law.</p>

Sued a Physician, Did You? The Doctor Won’t See You Now;

June 13, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<h3>Ethics collapse over malpractice insurance cost.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>A resolution to be voted on by the AMA's House of Delegates would make it ethical for physicians to refuse to treat plaintiffs' attorneys and their spouses, except in emergency situations and as otherwise required by law.</p>

Health execs may get hefty bonuses;

June 12, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Georgia Blue Cross officials could average $425,000 in acquisition.</h3><p class="source">The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</p> <p>The payouts, which would be made by Anthem, have been denounced by California consumer groups. One group, FTCR, said that if the compensation is paid out as planned, policyholders could end up with higher premiums and co-pays or fewer benefits.</p>

State leery of health plan deal;

June 10, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>WellPoint executives could walk away with millions of dollars if Anthem merger OKd</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"It's just appalling," said Jerry Flanagan, health advocate with FTCR, a Santa Monica group that on Tuesday obtained merger documents filed with the state Department of Managed Health Care. "It leaves less money left over to treat the sick."</p>