Healthcare

Patients’ Right to Sue HMOs Before High Court;

March 24, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The White House wants a Texas healthcare law, signed by then-Gov. Bush, to be voided.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"There's only been a few cases. But we passed it as a hammer to hold over the heads of the HMOs," said Jamie Court, president of FTCR in Santa Monica. "If the court goes the wrong way, it will be a real setback for patients' rights."</p>

LA councilman and consumer group examining plans to lower drug costs for locals

March 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>One possible model would establish a nonprofit entity to buy the drugs in large quantities from independent wholesalers, said Jerry Flanagan, health care director for FTCR, which is working with the councilman.</p>

House hears testimony on malpractice bill

March 12, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Lexington Herald Leader (Kentucky)</p> <p>Harvey Rosenfield testified that a different bill, Proposition 103, and not MICRA, was responsible for stabilizing malpractice premiums in California. He presented a chart showing that premiums continued to rise after MICRA was enacted in 1975</p>

Web sites that blacklist patients who have filed medical malpractice lawsuits

March 10, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">National Public Radio (NPR) - Talk of the Nation</p> <p>Jamie Court (FTCR): "If someone was an innocent victim of medical negligence and filed a case--doesn't matter if they won, lost, whatever--that doctors could then look them up on DoctorsKnow.Us and not treat them."</p>

Critics fear patient blacklist;

March 6, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>DOCTORS CAN TRACK LAWSUITS AT SITE</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>"What's to prevent doctors from using the database to deny patients medical care?", asked Doug Heller of the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, which along with a similar group, Texas Watch, condemned the site Friday.</p>

Universal coverage backed;

March 4, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Report finds varied reasons for high cost</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>While participants disagree on potential solutions, there is general consensus that the health care system needs more financial transparency - people need to know how much health care services cost, and the profits and overhead of the companies providing</p>

Frist family business

February 29, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Tennessean</p> <p>FTCR, a consumer group, went after Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist on the malpractice insurance issue last week, saying it created a conflict of interest for the surgeon from Nashville.</p>

BOOK REVIEW; An economist prescribes ‘Strong Medicine’;

February 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The problem is that Cutler wrote the book for the system's engineers, not for its travelers. A player in Bill Clinton's healthcare reform efforts, Cutler has insight to offer reformers, but less to give to average families trying to deal with their health</p>

Tenet sale may lead to mandate of incentives for buyers

February 23, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Business Journal</p> <p>"The likely people who will take over these hospitals are non-profits. I am interested in what is the biggest obstacle in keeping them open," said Jerry Flanagan, of the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights.</p>

FTCR Calls for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s Recusal from Medical Malpractice Debate for Conflict of Interest

February 23, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

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N.C. BOARD TARGETS CANADIAN DRUGS;

February 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>COMPANY TOLD TO STOP ITS PRESCRIPTION SERVICE</h3><p class="source">Charlotte Observer (North Carolina)</p> <p>"Pharmacists lose business when people in North Carolina use mail-order and Internet services to buy drugs," said Jerry Flanagan, spokesman for the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

N.C. BOARD TARGETS CANADIAN DRUGS;

February 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>COMPANY TOLD TO STOP ITS PRESCRIPTION SERVICE</h3><p class="source">Charlotte Observer (North Carolina)</p> <p>"Pharmacists lose business when people in North Carolina use mail-order and Internet services to buy drugs," said Jerry Flanagan, spokesman for the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>