Sutter Health sued over theft of computer containing patient data

by Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee

Sutter Health is being sued for negligence and other allegations in the mid-October theft of a computer from Sutter Medical Foundation headquarters that held information on more than 4 million of its patients.
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Low job placement rates put for-profit colleges at risk

by Erica Perez, California Watch

New figures show two California campuses owned by for-profit education firm Career Education Corp. appear to have placed fewer than 65 percent of graduates in jobs – the minimum job placement rate required by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. Read More ›

Premium Hikes Report May Be Kindling for California Initiative

by George Lauer, California Healthline

…significant increases in health insurance premiums over the past seven years will provide fodder for a recently launched campaign in California to let voters decide whether the state should have the authority to reject health insurance rate increases. Read More ›

CFC Blog Post: The Need for Internet Privacy

by Zack Kaldveer, Consumer Federation of California, Privacy Revolt

The fact is, there’s been a virtual explosion in data collection, data analysis and use of behavioral marketing on the internet without the requisite privacy protections to go along with it. Billions of dollars at stake, and your private information is the currency. Read More ›

Internet privacy: a contradiction in terms?

by Beth Givens, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, San Diego Union-Tribune

In closing, effective online privacy protection requires a multipronged approach involving policymakers, industry, nonprofits and consumers. It must not be lost to bogus arguments and unfounded myths. Read More ›

Anthem Blue Cross sued over higher medical insurance deductibles

by Duke Helfand, Los Angeles Times

Consumer Watchdog says California’s largest for-profit health insurance company used ‘bait and switch’ tactics to raise deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs for some customers May 1. Read More ›

Cell Phone Providers Urged to Stop Collecting Data on Customers’ Movements

by Zack Kaldveer, Consumer Federation of California, Privacy Revolt

…no one wants to feel as if a government agent is following you wherever you go – be it a friend’s house, a place of worship, or a therapist’s office – and certainly innocent Americans shouldn’t have to feel that way. Read More ›

California group files health insurance regulation initiative

by Torey Van Oot, Capitol Weekley

The proposed initiative would also prohibit insurers from considering a lapse in coverage when determining rates or premiums for auto, health or homeowners’ policies. Read More ›

Is GPS tracking too ‘1984’?

by Editorial, Los Angeles Times

Should the police be allowed to affix an electronic tracking device to a suspect’s car without a warrant and follow his every movement for a month? That was the question at an oral argument at the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Read More ›

State cuts prescription drug monitoring amid spike in pain pill deaths

by Christina Jewett, California Watch

While federal authorities are calling the spike in prescription painkiller deaths an epidemic, California is dismantling a system that the White House identifies as a promising method to tackle the problem. Read More ›

Billionaire Sponsors Zombie Insurance Initiative

by Richard Holober, Executive Director, Consumer Federation of California

But like a zombie that is killed, only to walk the earth again, Mercury Insurance Chairman George Joseph just donated $8.2 million to bring Prop 17 back from the grave for the 2012 ballot. Read More ›

For-profit college firm discloses improper job placement rates

by Erica Perez, California Watch

A for-profit education company with five campuses in California disclosed…(it) was inflating job placement calculations at several of its campuses – just one day after the company announced the CEO’s resignation.
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More consumers leaving big banks for credit unions

by Eve Mitchell, Contra Costa Times

Credit unions and community banks in the Bay Area are seeing a spike in new members, sparked in part by general anger with big banks and in part by their now-abandoned plans to charge for using debit cards.
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