"Health & Medical News"

CALPIRG released a new analysis today examining drug companies’ self-imposed limits on their marketing to doctors – efforts that include lavish wining-and-dining and thousands of dollars worth of gifts. The report, Playing By Their Own Rules: An Analysis of Drug Company Gifts to Doctors, finds that these limits are riddled with exceptions, and that some companies have evaded even the least restrictive limits on their marketing.   
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Popularity: unranked [?]

CALPIRG Expresses Deep Disappointment in Senate’s Failure to Pass Health Care Reform
 
We are deeply disappointed in the lack of action by the Senate Health Committee today. The failure to vote for health care reform was in effect a vote for the status quo.
 
Our current health care system, with skyrocketing costs and six million uninsured Californians, is unacceptable and unsustainable. To add to current problems, today the Senate Pro Tem and many others noted that in the near term, health care could get worse, as state coverage programs could face up to $1.1 billion in cuts in the upcoming budget. The faltering economy makes health insurance all the more tenuous for many California residents, bolstering the need for reform even more.
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Popularity: unranked [?]

CALPIRG Expresses Deep Disappointment in Senate’s Failure to Pass Health Care Reform
 
We are deeply disappointed in the lack of action by the Senate Health Committee today. The failure to vote for health care reform was in effect a vote for the status quo.
 
Our current health care system, with skyrocketing costs and six million uninsured Californians, is unacceptable and unsustainable. To add to current problems, today the Senate Pro Tem and many others noted that in the near term, health care will get worse in the short-term, as state coverage programs could face up to $1.1 billion in cuts in the upcoming budget. The faltering economy makes health insurance all the more tenuous for many California residents, bolstering the need for reform even more.
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Popularity: unranked [?]

Statement by Mike Russo, Health Care Advocate and Staff Attorney for CALPIRG:

 “CALPIRG applauds the Assembly’s passage today of the comprehensive health care reform bill, ABX1-1.  The reform will greatly expand coverage, contain the surging costs of health care, and give consumers a fair shake when buying insurance.  The bill:
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Popularity: unranked [?]

Health care reform is at the top of California’s agenda, and everyone agrees the system is broken.  It’s harder to know which problems are the most important, and easy to lose sight of what’s really at stake in the abstract policy debates.  That’s why CALPIRG recently conducted an email survey of 575 of our members, to find out what kind of reforms are most important to them, and gather their stories about the health care system.  
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Popularity: unranked [?]

Statement by Mike Russo, Health Care Advocate and Staff Attorney for CALPIRG: 

“The current health care system doesn’t give Californians access to quality health insurance at a fair price.  Californians need comprehensive reform, and that’s why CALPIRG is committed to achieving it this year.”

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Popularity: unranked [?]

Statement by Mike Russo, Health Care Advocate and Staff Attorney for CALPIRG:

“We welcome the Speaker’s announcement on Tuesday of his plan for health care reform.  While the details haven’t fully been released, it looks to contain costs, expand coverage, and help consumers get a fair shake when buying insurance.  

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Popularity: unranked [?]

Statement by Mike Russo, Health Care Advocate and Staff Attorney for CALPIRG:  

 “We welcome Gov. Schwarzenegger’s announcement today that he has released the details of his health care reform proposal. Now all sides have put their cards on the table, and lawmakers can continue shaping the comprehensive health care reform California needs.  

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Popularity: unranked [?]

 “Governor Schwarzenegger’s health care proposal has taken several important steps forward by recognizing the need to regulate some of the worst practices of health care insurers.  

“We are particularly pleased with the Governor’s proposal to require insurers to offer health insurance to all Californians and to spend a significant amount of premium dollars on actually providing care. The current practice of excluding any individual that might have even the smallest of health problems undermines the very idea of pooling risk through insurance. 

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Popularity: 7% [?]

Statement by Pedro Morillas, CALPIRG Legislative Advocate: 

“We applaud the Senate for passing AB 8 (N??ez) this afternoon.

“Regulating the insurance companies must be part of any meaningful health care reform. CALPIRG supports AB 8, in large part because the bill grants Californians access to more affordable health insurance. 

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Popularity: 5% [?]