Doctors Fail to Do Simple Blood Test, Man Loses Leg
<p><h2>
Gary Rushford - San Jose, California</h2></p>
Healthcare
Healthcare and patient-safety coverage — medical negligence, prescription drug prices, and your right to quality, affordable care.
Man With Wrong Kidney Removed Denied Adequate Compensation
<p><h2>
Harry Jordan - Long Beach, California</h2></p>
Tenet sale a sign of times;
<h3>Big chains that have gobbled up smaller hospitals are now finding them less attractive.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register (California)</p>
<p>"In the whole state there has been a shrinking capacity," Jamie Court said. "Chains like Tenet have come in and then downsized to maximize their profits. This is not about excess capacity. This is about making enough money."</p>
Diluting of HMO Patients’ Rights Feared;
<h3>Consumer groups worry that an order by the governor to cut red tape has weakened rules protecting 20 million Californians.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p>
<p>Consumer advocates voiced concern Thursday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's efforts to slice through regulatory red tape had neutered a dozen rules protecting the rights of more than 20 million HMO patients in California.</p>
The Eraser of HMO Patients’ Rights?
<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">HMO reform was the big
populist movement of the late 1990s and, in California, one of its main
results was a new Department of Managed Health Care and its 1-800
patient help hotline. The...</font>
Blues boom; Anthem, WellPoint deal proceeds despite challenges
<h3>Consumer group challenges merger</h3><p class="source">Modern Healthcare</p>
<p>Concerns voiced by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in November 2003 called on the FTC to investigate the merger on the grounds that it would unfairly enrich executives at the expense of members.</p>
Blues boom; Anthem, WellPoint deal proceeds despite challenges
<h3>Consumer group challenges merger</h3><p class="source">Modern Healthcare</p>
<p>Concerns voiced by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in November 2003 called on the FTC to investigate the merger on the grounds that it would unfairly enrich executives at the expense of members.</p>
Taking the Initiative on ’04 Ballots;
<h3>With voters increasingly asked to decide policy, issues ranging from gambling to taxation, health care and workers' comp could face public.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p>
<p>Plaintiffs' lawyers routinely invoke civil code section 17200 when they sue corporations in class action and environmental law cases. But businesses charge that lawyers operating lawsuit "mills" allege minor consumer law violations in an effort to obtain</p>
Letters: Curb medical costs
<p class="source">Contra Costa Times (California)</p>
<p>FTCR has called on the Legislature and governor to keep SB2 and make the system affordable for consumers and business owners by cracking down on profiteering and waste.</p>
Will HMOs Jingle All the Way to the Bank on Arnold’s Watch?
<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">With health care costs
skyrocketing, a new California Health Care Quality Improvement and Cost
Containment Commission (AB 1528 Cohn) may have the most important job
in the state - reining in...</font>
The Real Life Stories Arnold Wouldn’t Hear
<h3>An Injured Worker & Price Grouged Patient's Message To The Gov</h3>
<p>Five years ago, Jodi Greggs, then a 38-year-old, much-in-demand Licensed Vocational Nurse, went to provide a "standby assist" for a 200-pound patient from his bed to his wheelchair. In making the transition, the patient slipped, and grabbed Jodi's shoul</p>
Doctoring the Nurse-Patient-Ratios
<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Tipsters tell ArnoldWatch that
lobbyists for the state hospital association were livid when they
realized that Arnold's freeze of all pending state regulations was too
late to put a stop to...</font>