Healthcare

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>

Editorial – Your Legislators In Inaction

June 27, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>The "walks" continue. Two significant bills were killed on reconsideration in Assembly committees Tuesday, with pivotal blocs of legislators failing to vote. This "courtesy nonvoting" scheme is becoming common in Sacramento, detailed in Tuesday's editori</p>

COMMENTARY: One for the patients: Court backs states on allowing second opinions on health care

June 25, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Philadelphia Inquirer</p> <p>Just when the anti-HMO movie "John Q" was well on its way to the bottom shelves of video stores, along comes the Supreme Court to bolster Americans who have a simmering feud with managed-care insurers.</p>

WOMEN’S HEALTH-CARE CRISIS LOOMS;

June 23, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Rising malpractice premiums may force some doctors to stop delivering babies</h3><p class="source">Dayton Daily News</p> <p>Miami Valley physicians say rising malpractice premiums soon will force some to make a hard decision - whether to continue delivering babies.</p>

Two more top executives to leave Kaiser in shake-up

June 22, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Two top executives at Kaiser Permanente will leave July 1, including its California division president, whose job has been eliminated by the giant nonprofit health group.</p>

Patients’ Rights Get Lift From Justices

June 21, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Patients whose health maintenance organizations deny them a medical treatment or drug benefit have a right to a second opinion from outside doctors, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday, upholding the new "independent review" laws in California and 41 other</p>

HMOS MAY BE FORCED TO PAY

June 21, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>In a victory for patients and a serious blow to the managed-care industry, a closely divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that states can now force health maintenance organizations to pay for treatments they initially reject.</p>

Editorial – A close call for patients

June 21, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>The busy U.S. Supreme Court also delivered a strong ruling for patients' rights Thursday. The justices upheld laws in 42 states -- including California -- that assert a patient's right to get a second opinion when a health maintenance organization denie</p>

Court rules HMO patients entitled to 2nd opinion

June 21, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>States can entitle patients to a second medical opinion if their HMO refuses to pay for treatment, a closely divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a decision that upholds laws in California and 39 other states.</p>

SUPREME COURT RULING: AHL ROUNDS UP REACTIONS

June 21, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">American Health Line</p> <p>The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday upheld state laws that allow patients an independent second opinion when an HMO denies coverage (See story 1). The following is a summary of editorials and organizations' reaction.</p>