consumer groups news from FierceHealthcare

In theory, patients should ask surgeons some probing questions prior to getting their procedure done, including what success rate they have and how many procedures they've performed, most safety... Read more...

In recent times, nursing homes' use of antipsychotic drugs for patients without psychosis has gone up significantly--a trend which is beginning to catch the eye of regulators, consumer groups and... Read more...

Triggered by a wave of private investment in nursing homes by players like The Carlyle Group, federal legislators have begun to take a closer look at how such investments affect the care such homes... Read more...

> A coalition of medical and consumer groups, labor unions, large employers and health insurance companies are rolling out a major e-prescribing push. Read more...

A coalition of consumer groups are asking Congress not to countermand a recent decision by CMS to limit Medicare coverage for anemia medication use. They've written a letter asking Reps. Anna Eshoo... Read more...

Piggybacking on a state grant, an Albany, NY-based trade group has set plans to develop a $12 million pay-for-performance program. The group, the New York Health Plan Association, has accepted a $3.2... Read more...

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) has begun running a series of ads advocating healthcare reform in California. The health system, which operates 42 hospitals in California, Arizona and Nevada, plans to run print ads in several national and regional publications, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Newsweek. The ads don't detail a specific reform scheme, but rather, agitate for broad healthcare accessibility. CHW also belongs to a pro-reform …

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Momentum seems to be building for a New York state bill which would require drug makers to report when they give doctors gifts valued at over $75. This week, a wide range of physician and consumer groups expressed support for the measure, including the AARP, National Physicians Alliance, Center for Medical Consumers and Consumer Reports publisher Consumers Union. The bill targets the $7 billion per year pharmas spend in physician gifts, which includes everything from meals, trips and …

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A proposed merger between Pennsylvania-based health plans Independence Blue Cross and Highmark drew criticism yesterday, with politicians and consumer groups raising questions about the impact of the deal. The proposed merger, which has already been approved by the boards of the two plans, would create the nation's third-largest health insurer, with 9 million beneficiaries and more than …

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California's health plans are responding to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's universal health coverage proposal unveiled earlier this month. The plans, which include Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente, recognize the need for change in the healthcare system and have expressed a desire to enroll more people in their plans. But suggestions often differ from Schwarzenegger's. For instance, the health plans advocate taxes on cigarettes and service charges on patients every time they visit a doctor. …

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