Insurance

COMMENTARY: L.A. Could Cut Drug Costs With Bulk Buys;

April 27, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>City Council plan would ease the prescription bite for residents.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Los Angeles can take the lead by approving the proposed plan and showing the nation how to get a better deal for seniors and others who need more affordable prescription drugs.</p>

Regulating insurers touted as solution

April 25, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Tulsa World</p> <p>Stringent regulation of insurance companies has kept medical malpractice insurance rates stable for 13 years in California, a national consumer advocacy group says.</p>

X-RAYING WORKERS’ COMP

April 23, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">LA Weekly (California)</p> <p>"The reason rates are so high is not because of a sudden spate of injuries or litigation or anything that's particularly new, but because the insurance industry has absolutely gouged businesses in this state.", said Doug Heller, executive director with FT</p>

Regulating Damages vs. Regulating Insurance Rates: The California Experience

April 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Testimony of Douglas Heller to Oklahoma State Legislature</h3>

Step right up – taxpayer advocate puts money where mouth is

April 20, 2004  ·  Doug Heller

<p class="source">The Recorder</p> <p>Dou Heller, executive director of the rabble-rousing Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, issued a "I Read It and I Get It" contest, which challenged lawmakers to prove they had read the workers' comp bill before voting. There were no takers.</p>

Some Are Unsettled by Gov.’s Victory;

April 18, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Schwarzenegger used his clout to quickly win workers' comp reform, but some note that a 77-page bill passed with little public scrutiny.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>FTCR went to the Capitol rotunda Friday, offering to make a $1,000 charitable donation on behalf of any lawmaker who could correctly answer 10 questions about the bill. There were no takers.</p>

Governor beams over workers’ comp overhaul

April 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Watchdog groups wondered how many lawmakers knew much of what they had sped into law. After the bill emerged Thursday, the nonpartisan FTCR gave each legislator a statement that, along with a 12-question quiz, asked them to declare they had read the entir</p>

Drug-Card Headaches

April 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The new Medicare website could steer seniors toward legitimate discounts. Even more usefully, it could stoke a greater awareness of the pricing inequities that cry out for reforms far more ambitious than a drug discount card.</p>

Arnold’s Insurance Tutor

April 15, 2004  ·  Doug Heller

<font face="Verdana,helvetica,Arial"><br/> </font> <!-- body text starts --><!-- startbodytext --> <font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold told the Los Angeles Times that after "closely studying" the idea of regulati...</font>

The Real Workers’ Comp Deal

April 15, 2004  ·  Doug Heller

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">ArnoldWatch hears that the real deal in Sacramento has nothing to do with the language of the workers' comp bill itself but with a political agreement on another measure.<br/> <br/> Tipsters...</font>

Drug Deals?

April 14, 2004  ·  Jerry Flanagan

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The "Collectinator" has done a far better job of collecting campaign cash for himself from pharmaceutical companies - over $290,000 in checks cashed - than he has collecting money...</font>

Governor to keep $100,000 from workers’ comp insurer

April 9, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>"I think what is going on is every so often Schwarzenegger will return a contribution in order to clean himself," said Doug Heller with FTCR. "If you take a bath but don't use soap you're still dirty. I think that's what's going on here."</p>