Healthcare

A look inside; Settlement requires Kaiser Permanente to publish info on doc’s decisionmaking

January 27, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Modern Healthcare</p> <p>In what some healthcare experts are calling a landmark legal settlement, Kaiser Permanente has agreed to publish on its Web site detailed information on how its physicians make decisions about patient care.</p>

Statement of Scott Olsen regarding his son Steven’s Medical Malpratice Story – January 2003

January 27, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>Eleven years ago our son, Steven, was made blind and brain damaged by medical malpractice. Then he became a victim a second time of a law in California known as MICRA-the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act of 1975.</p>

Large H.M.O. to Make Treatment Guidelines Public

January 24, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The New York Times</p> <p>Consumer advocates said the moves by Kaiser would push other managed care companies and medical groups to make similar disclosures regarding both treatments and doctors' compensation.</p>

Kaiser settles two lawsuits;

January 24, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Accused of holding back on care, the HMO will post its treatment guidelines.</h3><p class="source">The Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Kaiser Permanente agreed to make public the treatment guidelines its physicians follow and to disclose how they get paid as part of a settlement of two lawsuits that accused the HMO of misrepresenting how decisions about patient care were made.</p>

Kaiser Settles Lawsuit With Consumer Group;

January 24, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>State's largest HMO will post its medical care guidelines, doctors' pay structure on Web site.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>As part of the settlement to the false-advertising and fraud lawsuit, Kaiser also agreed to step up physician recruitment and to encourage members to select personal physicians rather than seeing a different doctor on each visit.</p>

KAISER PERMANENTE: SETTLES FALSE-ADVERTISING SUIT WITH CONSUMER GROUP

January 24, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">American Health Line</p> <p>Kaiser Permanente yesterday announced that it will disclose some of its internal operations as part of a settlement with a consumer group that alleged Kaiser engaged in false advertising in campaigns to recruit new members.</p>

Kaiser to make disclosures of internal health care guidelines

January 23, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Kaiser Permanente and consumer activists announced a legal settlement Thursday that will require the health care giant to disclose the guidelines and financial incentives that influence the medical decisions of its doctors.</p>

Kaiser to reveal incentives for physicians

January 23, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">USA TODAY</p> <p>The agreement, announced Thursday, settles a lawsuit brought by several consumer groups that struck at the heart of the public's misgivings about managed care: the fear patient care is influenced by financial incentives.</p>

Experts Debate Relief from Rising Drug Costs

January 22, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CNNFN - STREET SWEEP</p> <p>The lure of lower prices has led U.S. consumers to hop on buses headed north of the border, or to surf the Internet seeking out online pharmacies. Drugmakers and others say the practice is illegal and potentially harmful to consumers. However, not everybo</p>

California boy to be poster child for foes of Bush cap on malpractice suits

January 22, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union Tribune</p> <p>On Thursday, 12-year-old Olsen and his parents will speak out against the Republican president's plan by telling their story: How doctors in 1992 refused a test that could have diagnosed then-2-year-old Steven's brain abscess.</p>

Bush Calls for Curbs on Medical Malpractice Suits;

January 17, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Plan is viewed as a way to limit health costs. It would cap non-economic damages at $250,000, but stiff opposition is expected in Congress.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Critics of the proposal argue that a cap on compensation for a patient's "pain and suffering" would be unfair and allow poor medical practice to go unpunished.</p>

Bush seeks medical malpractice reform

January 16, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">United Press International</p> <p>Groups representing trial lawyers and consumers were outraged, saying Bush's action would severely limit the rights of injured patients. They blame insurers for the current crisis.</p>