Insurance

Consumer Watchdog Argues That WARF Stem Cell Patent Is Invalid Under §101

August 1, 2013 · Mark Reback

Last month, Consumer Watchdog filed its <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/cwdvswarfbrief.pdf" target="_self" rel="noopener">opening brief</a> in an appeal of a Board decision affirming the patentability of U.S. Patent No.

Proposed Ballot Initiative Would Lift Calif.’s Medical Malpractice Cap

July 26, 2013 · Mark Reback

<div class="block__content block--article__content" id="page_0_content_0_BlockContent"> On Thursday, a consumer advocacy group filed a proposed ballot initiative that aims to eliminate a cap on damages under California's medical malpractice law, the <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2013/07/25/5595771/capitol-alert-ballot-measure-filed.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sacramento Bee</a> reports (White, Sacramento Bee, 7/26).

Initiative To Raise California Malpractice Cap Underway

July 15, 2013 · Mark Reback

The consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog and the legislator who initially backed California's 1975 Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA), which <a href="http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/search/malpractice+cap/daterange-all/b/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caps non-economic damages</a> awarded in malpractice cases at $250,000, are working together on a ballot initiative to raise the cap to $1.1 million to adjust for inflation.

HealthNet’s “Exchange” Rate Unreasonable

July 1, 2013 · Carmen Balber

<div> <img alt="" src="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/images/healthcaredeals.jpg" style="width: 1px; height: 1px;" />Consumer Watchdog's Public Comment On Health Net's CA "Exchange" Rates

Activists Oppose Relaxation Of DTSC Hazardous-Waste Enforcement Bill

June 27, 2013 · Mark Reback

Environmentalists are objecting to lawmaker plans to significantly weaken a bill requiring the toxics department to beef up enforcement efforts at hazardous-waste facilities in poor, minority communities, with some sources alleging that department officials are lobbying behind the scenes to scale back the bill. But the department claims it has not taken a position on the bill and has only informed lawmakers that the measure would require new money and staff at the agency.

Big Win and Winners

June 21, 2013 · Jamie Court

<a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/tags/rfj2013"><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2664" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/images_2013ragehonoreesquare.jpg" style="width: 211px; height: 211px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="250" height="250" /></a>California is the only state in America where drivers spent less per year on auto insurance in 2010 than they did in 1989. That startling fact comes from the insurance industry’s own data just analyzed by the Consumer Federation of America.

Class Action Lawsuit Barring “Bait and Switch” Health Plan Deductibles Advances

June 20, 2013 · Jerry Flanagan

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2676" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/images_doublecross-thumb.gif" style="width: 150px; height: 96px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="150" height="96" /> According To Blue Cross, “Any Term or Benefit” of Health Coverage Could Change Each Month

Blue Shield May Take L.A. Contract from Anthem Blue Cross

June 18, 2013 · Mark Reback

The health insurer wins a benefits panel's support. If finalized, about 27,000 L.A. workers and their families with Anthem coverage would face a change. Blue Shield of California, already facing a Los Angeles ethics complaint over potential conflicts of interest, is poised to take a lucrative health insurance contract for city workers away from rival Anthem Blue Cross.

Health Insurance Lobby Gears Up to Defeat Effort to Strengthen Obamacare in California

June 17, 2013 · Mark Reback

As part of what advocates call the “next step” of the Affordable Care Act, California voters will consider an initiative next year that will empower regulators and consumer advocates to challenge health insurance premium rate hikes.

Consumer Group Criticizes Exchange Rates for Being High

June 13, 2013 · Mark Reback

A consumer advocacy group is criticizing <a href="http://www.coveredca.com/news/press-releases/pr-05-23-13-plans-anounced.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">premium rates</a> in California's health insurance exchange for being too high, the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-california-insurance-premiums-20130612,0,2574327.story" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles Times</a> reports (Terhune [1], Los Angeles Times, 6/12). Background

Backers of Rate Regulation Aren’t Satisfied with Health Exchange

June 12, 2013 · Mark Reback

President Obama singled out California last week for getting better-than-expected rates in its rollout of the health insurance overhaul for millions of consumers. Yet some Obamacare supporters say those premiums are still too high, and they are continuing to push for a California ballot measure to regulate health insurance rates. Last month, Covered California, the state agency implementing the federal Affordable Care Act, announced the health insurers and proposed rates for individual customers in the state-run exchange.

Legislature Veteran Tom Calderon Turns to Business Consulting

June 9, 2013 · Mark Reback

Even in an era of term limits, Tom Calderon didn't serve long in the California Assembly. With four years under his belt, the Los Angeles County Democrat ran unsuccessfully for statewide office in 2002. Calderon launched a business doing what many former politicians do: consulting for organizations that have business before the government. As a lawmaker, he had carried legislation friendly to some of the organizations that later became his clients.

Prop 103 California Insurance Reform

New Bill Requires Insurance Companies to Offer and Renew Insurance Coverage for Fire-Safe Homes

Homeowners Dropped by Insurers