consumer groups

On Monday, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger held the Summit on Health Care Affordability which brought together healthcare business executives, union leaders and representatives of consumer groups to discuss California's uninsurance problem. Opinions on how to fix healthcare were as varied as one might expect, but there was one point almost everyone agreed on: This is a problem that must be fixed sooner rather than later. Article

Will new legislation designed to reform the health insurance industry do what HIPAA did for privacy and the Medicare Modernization Act did for prescription drugs? As ever, the answer to that one depends on where you stand. The debate picks up this week as legislation that could change the way the insurance industry operates moves toward a showdown in the senate. Supporters continue to argue that the Enzi bill will help make insurance more affordable by allowing small businesses to band …

The New York State Department of Health launched a Web site that allows residents to compare how well regional hospitals stack up in certain areas, including the prevention of post-surgical infections, pneumonia treatment, heart attack care and several other key metrics. State officials say the new report cards will encourage providers to raise their standards by applying competitive market pressures.

Hospitals, while publicly welcoming such moves, remain uncomfortable with the …

The Patient Privacy Rights Foundation and the Electronic Privacy Information Center are lobbying Congress for stronger privacy laws to protect electronic medical records. The development comes at a time when consumer groups are increasingly suspicious of employers plans for their workers' healthcare data. The release of a secret Wal-Mart memo detailing the company's plans to cut back on health costs by changing its hiring focus to encourage healthier employees brought the issue to the …

The Food and Drug Administration is backing away from a plan that would force long-term studies of psychiatric drugs before they go on the market. The decision comes after intense lobbying by industry groups, patients and psychiatrists following the regulator's recent decision to institute the new policy. The FDA Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted unanimously to overturn the policy at a meeting yesterday in Washington, DC. The decision will likely draw fire from consumer …

Marketing for Medicare Part D plans starts on Saturday, and amazingly this story hasn't been given more play until now. Senior citizens who sign up with a new insurance company for their Medicare Part D coverage may wind up losing access to their old insurance, according to officials at CMS and other sources. That could lead to a potential disaster, especially in states like California where more than 18 different plans will be available. Expect to hear a lot of criticism from consumer …

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he supports Proposition 78, the drug industry-backed ballot measure which would establish a prescription drug discount program designed to provide cheaper medicines to the poor and those without access to insurance. Schwarzenegger said he opposes Proposition 79, the more far-reaching alternative supported by some consumer groups and healthcare unions which would require stricter state regulation of drug sales and impose penalties on drug …

The Associated Press examines the battle over two ballot measures in the upcoming November 8 special election in California, each of which purports to contain rising prescription drug prices. Proposition 79, which is sponsored by consumer groups and unions, would give the uninsured price breaks and ban drug makers from selling to the state Medicaid program under certain conditions. Significantly, the initiative would also allow Californians to sue drug companies for "illegal …

The drug industry released new guidelines which respond to recent criticism of its advertising practices. The proposal would impose a waiting period before companies can advertise new drugs, an idea modeled after the 12-month self-imposed moratorium on new ads recently announced by Bristol Meyers Squibb. The industry guidelines do not specify how long companies must wait before airing ads, however. Also included are new restrictions on content and the hours at which some ads can be shown. …

Applied Digital, which makes the VeriChip, said that its RFID system helped prevent the abduction of a baby from a North Carolina hospital on Friday. The company says security guards at Presbyterian Hospital thwarted an abduction attempt at the facility's seventh floor maternity ward when the RFID system broadcast an alert. The VeriChip, which Applied Digital had hoped to market to hospitals to help them track patients and prevent surgical errors, has run into serious opposition over the …