Insurance

U. Wisconsin loosens grip on stem cell holdings

January 24, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily Cardinal - University Wire (Wisconsin)</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a California-based consumer watchdog organization, challenged three WARF patents on July 17, 2006, resulting in a reexamination of the patents by the Public Patent Foundation that is still in process. FTCR Stem Cell Project Director John Simpson said he thinks WARF patent rights should be revoked and that current policy changes are not enough.</p>

Wisconsin group waives fees to encourage stem cell research

January 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>John Simpson, an official with the consumer group, said public attention as a result of the challenge pressured WARF to make the changes. "It demonstrates that their previous policies clearly were detrimental to research," he said. "We're glad they've taken the step."</p>

Stem cell patents loosened;

January 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>WARF lifts some licensing restrictions on industry and academic research, but critics vow to continue challenging the patents</h3><p class="source">The Scientist Magazine</p> <p>John Simpson, stem cell project director for the California Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, who joined Loring to challenge the WARF patents last year, told The Scientist he has no plans to withdraw the challenge, and hopes the patents eventually disappear. "We think what WARF did validates what we've said," he noted -- namely, that the patents are limiting research. "What [WARF] has done is very good. I just don't think they've gone far enough." </p>

Stem cell scientists shout out hallelujah;

January 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Rule changes expected to improve research</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Despite the policy changes, the patent challenge will not be dropped, said Loring and John Simpson, of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer rights, one of the groups challenging the patents. "A change in licensing policy of the human ES cell patents doesn't solve the fundamental problem that the patents should not have been issued in the first place," Simpson said. "The right thing for WARF to do is admit that it doesn't deserve the patents and abandon them in their entirety."</p>

License retreat on stem cells;

January 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Wisconsin patent holder says it won't require pacts on research.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>John Simpson, spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, applauded Monday's announcement but said that his group would continue to pursue a challenge to the patents filed in July with the U.S. Patent Office. Simpson's group maintains the Wisconsin patents are overreaching and should be thrown out.</p>

Stem cell institute clears a hurdle;

January 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>University of Wisconsin group says it will not seek licensing fees on researchers' discoveries.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>John Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights declared partial victory. "While I welcome this step forward, the best thing would be for [the Wisconsin foundation] to abandon its claims to these overreaching patents that are recognized nowhere else in the world," he said.</p>

FACING CRITICISM, BOARD AGREES TO CONTINUE WORK ON KEY INSURANCE GUIDELINES

January 23, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE (Boston, MA)</p> <p>Carmen Balber, a consumer advocate from the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, called the $380 month premiums "totally unacceptable." She said that the solution in striking the right balance between affordability and descent health coverage is by having the insurers absorb some of the cost by lowering their profit margins.</p>

WARF will ease stem cell licensing restrictions;

January 22, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>UW licensing arm rejects call to abandon stem cell patents</h3><p class="source">Wisconsin Technology Network</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a California consumer watchdog organization, says policy changes that ease licensing requirements on human embryonic stem cell patents held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation are a step in the right direction, but don't go far enough to relinquish WARF's claims on embryonic stem cells.</p>

NATIONAL GROUP CAUTIONS AGAINST “JUNK INSURANCE” UNDER BAY STATE’S NEW LAW

January 19, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE (Boston, MA)</p> <p>A California-based national consumer group chimed in on the state's new health insurance law, calling on decision makers here to establish insurance policies that cap out-of-pocket expenses at $7,500 per individual and $10,000 per family. The non-profit Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR), in a letter to the Massachusetts Health Insurance Connector Authority, also urged the board to ban limits on what insurers will pay per treatment or illness and include "affordable" prescription drug coverage.</p>

Insurance Discount Tied to Auto Data

January 17, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Consumer advocates said they had little problem with collecting only mileage. Their suspicion is the other data could be use to justify rate increases or be sold to marketers. "I don't like the creeping invasion of these devices that collect a whole lot of data the insurance company tries to comfort us into believing it won't use," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights in California. "The insurance company is trying to get their hooks in on what should remain private information." </p>

Claims Under Fire;

January 15, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The future of embryonic stem cell research in the U.S. may hinge on the current review of key patents</h3><p class="source">Chemical & Engineering News</p> <p>The California initiative is also what led Santa Monica-based FTCR to get involved. John M. Simpson, director of the Stem Cell Project at FTCR, learned about the WARF patents while preparing a policy report on what intellectual property rules California should put in place to protect the state' s interests in research resulting from initiative grants.</p>

Bricks Fly At Schwarzenegger’s Universal Health Proposals

January 15, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">National Underwriter - Life & Health/Financial Services Edition</p> <p>In addition to letting insurers raise rates at will, the Schwarzenegger proposal would set no limits on doctors' and hospitals' charges, according to the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, Santa Monica, Calif.</p>