Healthcare

Wheelchairs and Oxygen Not Essential, Says Sen. Ed Hernandez

What could be more of a basic medical need than a wheelchair or oxygen? If you're having a tough time paying for the cheapest Covered California health plan, even with subsidies, you better hope you don't need those essential health benefits in the near future because you'll have to pay for it out of your own pocket if proposed legislation is approved.  
 

SEIU-UHW's Dave Regan Discusses Secret Deal with California Hospital Association

Source:

Sternburger 

If you want to read a story about the issue, read the Los Angeles Times' story here. 

Blue Shield Targets Profit Over Public Good, Tax Board Says

Blue Shield of California's $4 billion reserves and an executive mandate to increase profits are some of the reasons the California Franchise Tax Board gave in a June 2014 audit that revoked the insurance company's tax-exempt status. 
 

Cushy Corporate Alliances Don't Cushion Downfall of Top SEIU Official

In the labor movement, there are two kinds of leaders -- those who fight big corporations, and those who collaborate with them. The poster child for the collaborators just had half his membership taken away.

Covered California Transparency Stops at Rate Hike Proposals

Despite a health exchange deadline last week, Covered California has opted to keep proposed rates hikes secret. As part of federal requirements, state health exchanges must post all "proposed rates increases" on their websites.
 

Regulators Mum on Blue Shield’s Revocation

Nearly a year after a state agency revoked Blue Shield’s tax exemption, the public still doesn’t know why the health insurance giant can no longer avoid state taxes and whether it has abused its past tax subsidies.  

Pages

Capitol Watchdog is owned and operated by nonprofit Consumer Watchdog. For more information about Consumer Watchdog visit http://www.consumerwatchdog.org