Healthcare

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>

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>

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>

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>

Assembly committee kills patients’ rights bill

June 20, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Gabriel Valley Tribune</p> <p>Legislation aimed at strengthening patients' rights has been dealt a damning blow after members of a key Assembly committee rejected a proposal seeking to protect those insured by HMOs.</p>

Battle brews over HMOs Bill would let clients bypass arbitration in some serious cases.

June 18, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Sacramento Bee</p> <p>A bill that would allow patients to forgo mandatory arbitration in certain HMO disputes and turn directly to the courts is shaping up as the patients' rights battle of the year.</p>

Editorial – Patients and the law

June 14, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Most enrollees in managed-care health plans are required to submit disagreements to HMO-dominated arbitration procedures rather than seek redress by lawsuit. But this contradicts the intent of California's 1999 patients' bill of rights to make HMOs legal</p>