Health Administration Responsibility Project
Consumer Resources
Free help for patients
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- The agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid
- Medicare Hotline: (800) 638-6833
- Info on HIPAA
- Denial of Emergency Room Treatment -
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- (415) 744-3501
- Hospitals Cited
-
U.S. Dept. of Labor
- Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration
- Advice and Complaints about ERISA plans
- (866) 275-7922
-
Field Offices
- Center for Health Dispute Resolution
- Issues Binding decisions in Medicare HMO disputes
- Contracts with California's DMHC
- Also for AZ, CT, RI, and some private HMOs
- 1 Fishers Rd., 2d Floor, Pittsford, NY 14534
- (716) 586-1770, fax: (716) 586-2153
- www.healthappeal.com
- info@healthappeal.com
- Center for Health Care Rights
- Legal support for Medicare and HMO beneficiaries
- (213) 383-4519
- 520 S. Lafayette Park Place, Suite 214
- Los Angeles, CA 90057
- California Dept. of Managed Health Care
- For problems with HMOs, After HMO Grievance procedure has been exhausted
- HMO Help Center
- 980 Ninth St., Suite 500
- Sacramento, CA 95814-2725
- (888) HMO-2219 (888-466-2219)
- TDD: (877) 688-9891
- Fax: (916) 229-0465
- helpline@dmhc.ca.gov
- www.hmohelp.ca.gov
- Independent Medical Reviews
- Calif. Dept. of Health Services Ombudsman
- Support for MediCal HMO beneficiaries
- (888) 452-8609
- California Dept. of Insurance
- For problems with non-HMO Insurance companies
- (800) 927-HELP
- California Dept. of Aging
- (800) 510-2020 for Referral to local Long-term care Ombudsman
- (916) 324-3968 for State Long Term Care Ombudsman, Beth Mann
- Nursing Home Ombudsmen, Nationwide
- Health Consumer Alliance (Calif.)
- Health Care Coach (Calif.)
- Health Rights Hotline
- Only for Sacramento, Yolo, Placer & Eldorado counties
- in California.
- Toll free: (888) 354-4474; Local: (916) 551-2100
- Medicare Rights Center (New York)
- (212) 869-3850, Fax (212)869-3532.
- Hours: Monday thru Thursday 10-- 2.
- Cancer Legal Resource Center
- Advice and legal referral for cancer patients
- 919 S. Albany St.
- Los Angeles, CA 90015
- phone: (866) THE-CLRC (866-843-2572)
- drlc@lls.edu
-
California Medical Review, Inc. (CMRI)
- a private, federally-funded non-profit organization
- offers assistance to Medicare beneficiaries
- re HMOs, Nursing Homes, etc.
- Helpline: (800) 841-1602
-
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)
- A program of the California Department of Aging
- helps Medicare beneficiaries obtain Medicare, Medigap,
long-term care and other related health insurance services.
- Los Angeles County: (800) 824-0780; (213) 383-4579
- Other Counties: (800) 434-0222
- Just Health
- A Volunteer organization
- provides assistance to consumers having problems with the health care system
Political Activism
-
Consumers for Quality Care
- The Ralph Nader/Harvey Rosenfield/Jamie Court group pushing
for HMO reform, among other projects in California.
- (310) 392-0522
-
consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare
-
Public Justice
- National, public interest law firm offers news, legal briefs,
and a free online database for public interest advocates.
- www.tlpj.org
- National Center for Quality Assurance, Washington DC
- An Industry group which accredits HMOs, for what it's worth.
- (202) 955-3500
- Reports are available online from
-
Pacific Business Group on Health
- Consumers Union
- Clearinghouse of Managed Care Problems
- (415) 431-6747 x 116, Ele Hamburger
- California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform
- Legal Support for Nursing Home Residents
- Hot Line (800) 474-1116
- Web Site: www.canhr.org
- Email:
CANHRmail@canhr.org
Most of this site is under construction. We welcome all
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