Insurance

Mercury Insurance Legislation Seeks to Allow Higher Auto Insurance Prices, Deceptive Advertising

April 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>SB 975 (Calderon) and Krumme v. Mercury </h3> <p>This memo explains the history of Mercury Insurance's illegal broker fees and the effort to protect them in 2007 with SB 975.</p>

Good news for state’s stem-cell research institute

April 3, 2007  ·  John M. Simpson

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected three University of Wisconsin patents for human embryonic stem cells, which consumer advocates had claimed might hamper stem-cell research in California. The federal agency's ruling was received Monday by two consumer groups that challenged the patents, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the Public Patent Foundation.</p>

Patents for human stem cells invalidated;

April 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The protections were blamed for slowing medical research.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The office ruled the discovery of embryonic stem cells from primates -- including humans -- was not worthy of patent protection because scientists had used similar methods to isolate embryonic stem cells from mice and other mammals, and described the cells' potential for producing medical therapies. "They rejected every one of the claims," said John Simpson, stem cell project director at the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, one of the public interest groups that brought the challenge last year.</p>

Key stem cell patents revoked

April 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">New Scientist Magazine</p> <p>The examiners said the Wisconsin cells -- based on the work of James Thomson at the University of Wisconsin-Madison -- appeared to be either the same or obvious variations of cells described in previous patents issued to others or published in scientific papers. The decision came as the result of a challenge filed in July 2006 by the US Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) and the Public Patent Foundation.</p>

Patents on stem cells limited;

April 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>California nonprofit groups had argued research foundation claimed too much credit for process.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>"What this means for researchers in California and elsewhere is that they don't have to put up the mortgage to conduct their research," said Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, one of the nonprofit groups in the middle of the patent fight. "It's a great day for science."</p>

3 Patents on Stem Cells Are Revoked in Initial Review

April 3, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The New York Times</p> <p>The Public Patent Foundation, which seeks to overturn patents it believes are not in the public interest, sought the re-examination last July. It acted with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a California consumer group that said the patents could impede that state's $3 billion stem cell research program.</p>

Patent office throws out key stem cell patents

April 2, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Francisco Business Times</p> <p>The two groups challenging the patents argued that the work done by University of Wisconsin researcher James Thomson to isolate stem cell lines was obvious in the light of previous scientific research, making his work unpatentable. To receive a patent, something must be new, useful and non-obvious. The Patent and Trademark office agreed with the groups in a decision issued March 30, but received today.</p>

Taking the initiative on curbing health cost

March 30, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Now, the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights is determined to force health insurance companies to take similar steps every time they want to boost premiums. This will be especially crucial if, as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed, all Californians are mandated to purchase medical coverage. "We see this as the Proposition 103 for healthcare," says Jamie Court, president of the foundation, which has been quietly drafting an initiative that it aims to place on the February 2008 ballot.</p>

Coverage for all

March 25, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>This health insurance market, the one for individuals or families who don't automatically get covered through their jobs, is sick. Insurers try to avoid covering people who need care. And many Californians avoid getting insurance until it is in their financial interest to do so. It's a game, and the game must end somehow. That can only happen by blowing up the individual health insurance market that exists today and replacing it with something that makes more sense. And that can only happen with the California Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.</p>

AT&T Keeps on Giving

March 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">AT&T continues to pony up cash in appreciation of the governor's signature on legislation <a href="http://www.dirtymoneywatch.org/article/?storyId=3223">deregulating the pay-tv market</a> in...</font>

Blue Cross cancellations called illegal;

March 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The health insurer 'routinely' dropped the policies of pregnant or ill clients, an agency finds. The company disputes the charge.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Jerry Flanagan, a patient advocate with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said the investigation's findings should help the department move forward in its effort to develop regulations to clarify the law and toughen sanctions for rescission scofflaws.</p>

State regulators fine Blue Cross of California $1 million for canceling policies

March 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"A $1 million fine for 100 cases makes business sense for Blue Cross because of the profit levels of the company," said Jerry Flanagan, a patient advocate with the Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights. "Blue Cross is reaping millions in savings by not paying for care."</p>