Healthcare

Families of Injured Patients File California Ballot Measure To Adjust $250,000 Maximum Compensation Cap Set by Politicians In 1975 That Has Never Been Updated

September 26, 2019  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA — The father of a 29-year-old man disabled for life by medical negligence when he was two and the parents of a young...

Patient Safety Advocates Say Overdose Death Investigations Critical To Protecting Patients and Reducing Dangerous Opioid Overprescribing

February 1, 2019  ·  Carmen Balber

Milpitas, CA – Patient safety advocates testified to the Medical Board of California today that its initiative to investigate excessive prescribing by doctors involved in...

California Acts to Stem Opioid Overprescribing and Prevent Overdose Deaths

October 2, 2018  ·  Carmen Balber

Sacramento, CA – Starting today, California doctors will have to check a patient’s prescription history before prescribing addictive opioids and other controlled substances. The legislation is...

California Enacts First-In-Nation Law Requiring Doctors To Tell Patients When They Are On Probation

September 19, 2018  ·  Carmen Balber

Sacramento, CA — Doctors in California will have to be honest with their patients if they are on probation for sexual assault or other egregious...

First-in-Nation Bill To End Secrecy Around Doctor Sexual Assault and Other Patient Harm Passes CA Legislature

August 31, 2018  ·  Carmen Balber

Sacramento, CA – California would be the first state in the nation to mandate doctors tell their patients when they are disciplined for sexual assault or...

Hall of Famers RoseAnn DeMoro and Tammy Smick Join Consumer Watchdog’s Board of Directors

August 21, 2018  ·  Jamie Court

LOS ANGELES, CA — Two of America’s most effective advocates for better healthcare, patient rights and social justice, RoseAnn DeMoro and Tammy Smick, have joined...

Consumer Watchdog Testifies at Aetna/CVS Merger Hearing; Tells Insurance Commissioner Patient Privacy at Stake

June 19, 2018  ·  Evan Thomas King

Consumer Watchdog Calls on Insurance Commissioner to Assure Medical Privacy for HIV Patients at Hearing Regarding the Proposed Merger of Aetna Inc. into CVS Health...

CURES Database Will Be Vital in Preventing Opioid Deaths but Faces Powerful Special Interest Opposition

May 1, 2018  ·  Carmen Balber

Every doctor in California will soon be required to use the most powerful tool we have to identify and prevent opioid abuse: the state prescription...

​​​​​​​Lawmakers Vote to Lift Veil of Secrecy About Physician Sexual Assault & Other Doctor Misconduct Causing Patient Harm

April 24, 2018  ·  Carmen Balber

Sacramento, CA — Doctors on probation for sexually assaulting their patients and for other serious misconduct causing patient harm would be required to disclose this...

Atty Gen Falls Behind In Prioritizing Opioid Tracking Tool

February 6, 2018  ·  Carmen Balber

Santa Monica, CA — The California Department of Justice told the legislature today that it will delay implementation of a key technological tool for stemming...

Can Amazon, Chase and Berkshire Fix American Health Care?

January 30, 2018  ·  Jamie Court

My dry cleaner assaulted me last weekend furious about a thirty percent increase in his health insurance premiums.  Yesterday, a California Anthem policyholder, Josh Libresco, emailed me...

Trump’s Health Plan Order Could Bring Back Days of Junk Insurance

October 12, 2017  ·  Jamie Court

Santa Monica, CA — The White House’s executive order today seeking to allow for more “Association Health Plans” could turn the clock back to days...