Round Two Goes to Consumer Watchdog in Autism Battle
Ever play a game with a poor loser who tries to change the rules when the chips are down? The Department of Managed Health Care...
In The Courtroom
Lawsuit to stop “scandalous” denials of Autism treatment set for trial in December
What does “health care reform” promising “access” to health care services really mean if children can be denied the medical care they need? California HMOs...
Schwarzenegger veto harms kids with Autism
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Californians, including those stricken by autism, and their parents and caregivers, expect regulators to enforce the law, not to side with insurance companies seeking to boost their profits by denying patients the care they need.
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Consumer Watchdog Files Suit Against DirecTV
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Consumer Watchdog's Todd Foreman discusses the rationale behind the suit we have brought against DirecTV.</p>
Consumer Complaints, Lawsuits Target DIRECTV
Last year, Consumer Watchdog, a consumer advocacy group based in
Southern California, filed a class action lawsuit against DIRECTV over
its cancellation policies. Consumer Watchdog attorney Todd Foreman said
the company can charge customers up to $480 to get out of their
contracts.
Imburgia, Mecca and Greiner v. DirecTv
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<em><strong>Imburgia, Mecca and Greiner v. DirecTv</strong></em><br/>
Los Angeles Superior Court No. BC 398295<br/>
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<em><strong>UPDATE:</strong> Court Denies Preliminary Injunction Against DirecTv<br/>
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During...</p>
Consumer Watchdog Sues California Department of Managed Health Care for Permitting HMOs to Deny Treatments to Autistic Children after Secret Meetings Between State Employees and HMO Execs
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<strong>Consumer Watchdog Sues California Department of Managed Health Care for Permitting HMOs to Deny Treatments to Autistic Children after Secret Meetings Between State Employees and HMO Execs</strong></p>
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<em>Los Angeles Superior Court BS 121397</em></p>
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<em><strong>UPDATE: </strong><a name="OLE_LINK10"></a>Court Issues Preliminary Ruling Holding Autism Treatment Denials, Agency Actions Illegal.</em></p>
State Approves Autism Claims
Several families of autistic children denied treatments by their health plans have won administrative appeals, in a sign that a recent court ruling scrutinizing regulators may be having an effect on the state's handling of the cases.<br/>
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Court Advances Autism-Treatment Lawsuit Against California Regulator
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LOS ANGELES, CA -- A lawsuit claiming the California Department of Managed Care improperly allowed health insurers to decline payment for autism treatments will proceed to trial after a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge rebuked the state in a preliminary ruling. A Consumer Watchdog representative said regulators should stop denying
coverage on the grounds that ABA providers are certified not by the
state but by a national board. Continuing to do so would risk legal
damages, the advocacy group said in a statement. "The DMHC has to change its practices going forward, and the department
should immediately reverse its previous denials," Pam Pressley,
litigation director for Consumer Watchdog, said in a statement. "Gov.
Schwarzenegger, a long-time and vocal supporter of the Special Olympics
and developmentally disabled children, should require his regulators to
abide by the law."
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Suit Challenges State’s Autism Practices
A lawsuit alleging state regulators allow insurance companies to
deny necessary but expensive treatment for autistic children in
violation of state law has enough merit to proceed to trial, a Los
Angeles Superior Court judge has ruled. The lawsuit, filed in July by Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog,
seeks to compel the California Department of Managed Health Care to
order health plans to cover applied behavioral analysis (ABA) if a
member complains the treatment was denied though it is deemed medically
necessary and is provided by licensed personnel or under the
supervision of licensed personnel.
Autism Treatment Claims Dispute Can Go To Trial
A lawsuit seeking health care coverage for the use of applied
behavioral analysis in the treatment of autism has been cleared for
trial by the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Consumer Watchdog et. al. vs. California Department of Managed Health
Care et. al. involves Kaiser Permanente’s denial of coverage for a
child’s ABA treatment because the provider wasn’t licensed by the
state. The Oakland, Calif.-based health maintenance organization cited
regulations issued by the California Department of Managed Health Care
as its reason for denying coverage for ABA treatment.
Judge To Schwarzenegger Administration: Autism Denials Illegal
<strong>Santa Monica, CA – A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge issued
a ruling finding that the Schwarzenegger Administration has illegally
sided with health insurance companies that deny access to care for
autistic children. A memo circulated by the Schwarzenegger
Administration to health insurers was also ruled to be an illegal
“underground regulation” because it violated state law requiring a
public process for changing insurance regulations.</strong>