In The Courtroom

State Sued Over Handling of Autism Complaints

July 1, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

LOS ANGELES, CA -- California regulators are being challenged in court for siding with insurance companies, rather than patients, over some costly autism therapies. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, consumer advocates complain that the Department of Managed Health Care broke state law by precluding expert doctors from deciding whether an insurer must provide treatments for autism.<br />

Watchdog Group Sues State Agency Over Care For Kids With Autism

July 1, 2009  ·  Jerry Flanagan

The non-profit Consumer Watchdog and a doctor who works with autistic children are suing the California Department of Managed Health Care. Their lawsuit alleges that the agency is allowing insurance companies to refuse to pay for effective but expensive treatments for kids with autism.

State Regulators Sued For Allowing Insurers to Deny Autism Care

July 1, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

"Point of the suit is simply -- it's doctors, not insurance company bureaucrats or politicians or government lawyers, that should decide what kind of care a child could get," says Jerry Flanagan with Consumer Watchdog.

Suit Alleges Autism Care Routinely Denied

July 1, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Wednesday, the group Consumer Watchdog sued the California Department of Managed Health Care, alleging the agency and its director have allowed private health insurers to refuse to provide health care to autistic children like Aidan. "The department responsible for overseeing many of the state's insurance companies has been siding with insurance companies and denying access to necessary autism care," said Jerry Flanagan, Consumer Watchdog.

Schwarzenegger Administration Sued for Allowing Health Insurance Companies to Deny Autism Care

July 1, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Santa Monica, CA -- The mother of an autistic child joined Consumer Watchdog and its attorneys today to announce a lawsuit against the California Department of Managed Health Care (“DMHC”), the Schwarzenegger Administration agency responsible for regulating many of California’s health insurers.  The suit alleges that the DMHC has wrongfully allowed insurance companies to refuse to pay for autism treatments, resulting in the denial of critically needed, medically necessary treatment for autistic children. </p>

State Agency Sued Over New Policy On Autism

July 1, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer Watchdog filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the state agency that oversees HMOs, accusing it of violating state law by siding with insurance companies in denying treatment for children with autism. The suit accuses the department of changing its policies, forcing parents to appeal insurance denials through an internal grievance process rather than letting an independent panel of doctors make treatment decisions. "We want the department to follow the law. Doctors - not insurance companies and government lawyers - decide what care kids should get," said Jerry Flanagan, Consumer Watchdog's director of health policy.

Parents of Autistic Children Fight Back — Warn HMO Regulator Against Siding With Insurers Refusing to Pay for Treatment

February 25, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>Kaiser, Blue Cross and Other Health Insurers Illegally Deny Treatment to Autistic Children, Says Consumer Watchdog</strong><br />  <br /> Santa Monica, CA -- Parents of autistic children and their families joined Consumer Watchdog today in warning California regulators not to side with health insurance companies that are scheming to avoid paying for autism treatment that is required by state law. </p>

WellPoint/Anthem Merger is a 9-figure Xmas Gift to Executives, Lump of Coal for Patients

November 30, 2004  ·  Jerry Flanagan

The final approval today of the merger of HMO giants WellPoint Health Networks and Anthem Inc. by the Georgia insurance commissioner is "a 9-figure Christmas gift for company executives at a time when patients have to fight for basic health care coverage," according to Jerry Flanagan of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR).

CA Taxpayers Sue To Force Wellpoint/Blue Cross To Pay $500 Million In Unpaid Taxes

November 24, 2004  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights has filed a taxpayer lawsuit on behalf of all California taxpayers calling upon California Controller Steve Wesley and the Board of Equalization to collect hundreds of millions of dollars in gross premiums taxes unpaid by Wellpoint subsidiary Blue Cross of California during the last eight years.

Schwarzenegger Folds to Special Interests, OKs WellPoint/Anthem Merger; Garamendi Says “No” on Patients’ Behalf

July 23, 2004  ·  Jerry Flanagan

Following the Schwarzenegger Administration’s approval this morning of the pending buy-out of Blue Cross of California’s parent company, WellPoint, by Anthem, the Foundation for Taxpayer...

Open Letter to WellPoint and Anthem Shareholders Regarding Blue Cross of California’s Failure to Pay Gross Premium Tax

July 12, 2004  ·  Jerry Flanagan

As California regulators review the impact on the California health care system of the proposed merger of Blue Cross of California’s parent company, WellPoint Health...

Patients, Taxpayers Criticize Anthem/WellPoint Merger Over Higher Premiums, Unpaid Taxes, Executive Compensation

July 9, 2004  ·  Jerry Flanagan

At public hearings today on the buy-out of Blue Cross of California's parent-company, WellPoint Health Networks, by Anthem Inc., patients and taxpayers called on legislators and regulators to derail the deal and investigate Blue Cross' special tax status that has allowed the company to avoid paying about $500 million dollars in gross premium taxes since 1994.