Healthcare

Prescription drug issue goes to state Senate;

August 8, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Watchdog agency would get more say over HMO coverage</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>A Senate bill introduced this week would give the state more muscle in the battle between patients and HMOs over prescription drug coverage denials.</p>

Will Society Allow Baby Boomers’ Health Care Savings To Go Bust?

August 2, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>Children born in the wake of World War II could now be facing the battle of their lives, simply affording their health care.</p>

California’s medical malpractice premiums some of the lowest in the country

August 2, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">National Public Radio - All Things Considered</p> <p>Doctors across the country say the price of malpractice insurance has become unaffordable. As a result, many have retired early or stopped performing the procedures that are more likely to lead to lawsuits. As a result, members of Congress have consider</p>

Bush Favors Limits On Med-Mal Lawsuits

July 26, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">BestWire</p> <p>Bush wants to address the crisis of rising medical-malpractice premiums by putting caps on awards in malpractice lawsuits.</p>

Malpractice: Bush Plan Would Cap Awards In Lawsuits

July 25, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">American Health Line</p> <p>Under Bush's plan, which he will announce at a speech in High Point, N.C., the amount patients could be awarded for noneconomic damages, such as compensation for pain and suffering, would be limited to $250,000.</p>

Bush Seeks to Limit Malpractice Suits;

July 25, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Such a move will turn aspects of the health-care system into an 'even bigger death trap,' one opponent says. But HHS paper touts benefits.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Bush plans to call today for stringent new curbs on malpractice lawsuits against health-care providers and insurance companies, contending that limiting such litigation will lower the cost of care and increase the number of medical specialists, administra</p>

House Medical-Malpractice Bill To Get More Attention After August

July 24, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">BestWire</p> <p>The House has held a brief hearing on a medical-malpractice bill that seeks to limit liability in health-care lawsuits.</p>

CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY: IMPACT OF LITIGATION ON HEALTHCARE ACCESS

July 17, 2002  ·  Jamie Court

<h3>COMMITTEE: HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE, SUBCOMMITTEE: HEALTH</h3><p class="source">Federal Document Clearing House</p> <p>In an age where expanding patients' rights has become a national demand, HR 4600 would dramatically contract patients' rights across the nation. This anti-consumer legislation will shield HMOs and providers they influence from legal accountability</p>

Op-Ed: Let a Public Board Set Health-Care Rates;

July 7, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Manage hospitals like utilities</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The only way to ensure access to Los Angeles County's emergency rooms and hospitals is by employing the same model that Angelenos use to protect their electricity and water costs and Marylanders use to maintain their hospitals: public utility regulation.</p>

Commentary; Let a Public Board Set Health-Care Rates; Manage hospitals like utilities.

July 7, 2002  ·  Jamie Court

<!-- excerpt --><p>The only way to ensure access to Los Angeles County's emergency rooms and hospitals is by employing the same model that Angelenos use to protect their electricity and water costs and Marylanders use to maintain their hospitals: public utility regulation.</p>

Say It. Ain’t So, Miguel.

July 5, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>L.A.'s top labor leader shills for the HMO vultures</h3><p class="source">L.A. Weekly</p> <p>When it came to an urgent, no-brainer, pro-consumer reform of some of the notorious practices of our morally bereft HMOs, Contreras took a dive. We caught him smack-dab in bed in the most compromising of positions with the HMO lobbyists and</p>

HMO arbitration reform bill fails — L.A. labor leader is blamed

June 27, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Sponsors of a bill that would have allowed patients to avoid mandatory arbitration in certain HMO disputes blamed powerful labor boss Miguel Contreras on Wednesday for defeating the measure.</p>