Resources

Please review the details after each organization to determine its intended function and how it can be of use for you.

American Medical Association
515 North State St., Chicago, IL 60610 . (312) 464-5000
Publishes the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the American Medical News, and other publications for physicians and laypeople. The JAMA has opened its pages to a wide-ranging discussion of the nation's changing health delivery system.

California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform
Email: CANHRmail@canhr.org . Hot Line (800) 474-1116
Legal support for Medi-Cal (Medicaid) recipients. Publishes newsletter. California based.

Center for Health Care Rights
520 S. Lafayette Park Place, Suite 214, Los Angeles, CA 90057 . (213) 383-4519
Legal support for Medicare and HMO beneficiaries

Citizen Action
1730 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Ste. 403, Washington, D.C. 20036 . (202) 775-1580
Consumer advocacy organization with a strong interest in health issues. Campaigns for consumer protection in Washington as well as in many state capitals.

Consumers for Quality Care
(310) 392-0522
The Ralph Nader/Harvey Rosenfield group pushing for HMO reform, among other projects in California.

CMRI California Medical Review, Inc. (CMRI)
Helpline: (800) 841-1602
A private, federally-funded non-profit organization offers assistance to Medicare beneficiaries. re... HMOs, Nursing Homes, etc.

Families USA Foundation
1334 G St. NW, Ste. 300, Washington, D.C. 20005 . (202) 628-3030
Consumer health organization that publishes frequent reports on the managed care and pharmaceutical industries, Medicare, and Medicaid, with a particular focus on medical consumers. Excellent source of information on the nation's health care system.

Group Health Association of America
1129 20th St. NW, Ste. 600, Washington, DC 20036 . (202) 778-3212
The major trade association representing HMOs. Publishes a newsletter, magazine, and special reports on the HMO industry. Outstanding source of information on HMOs and managed care.

Health Insurance Association of America
555 13th St. NW, Ste. 600 East, Washington, DC 20004 . (202) 824-1600
The trade association for the health insurance industry. Publishes numerous reports and compilations of key statistics on the health insurance industry.

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)
Los Angeles County: (800) 824-0780; (213) 383-4579, Other Counties: (800) 434-0222
A program of the California Department of Aging. Helps Medicare beneficiaries obtain Medicare, Medigap, long-term care and other related health insurance services. Primarily for senior citizens.

National Committee for Quality Assurance
2000 L St. NW, Ste. 500, Washington, DC 20036 . (202) 955-3500
The nation's most prominent accrediting organization for the managed care and HMO industry. Leading the effort to systematically gather information on the quality of care offered by managed care organizations. Somewhat objective.

Physicians for a National Health Program
332 South Michigan Ave., Ste. 500, Chicago, IL 60604 . (312) 554-0382
A relatively small but vocal organization of American physicians that strongly supports creating a Canadian-style single-payer health care system in the U.S. Sharply critical of the managed care and HMO industries. Monthly newsletter offers accessible articles.

^ top

To see if you have a case, click here

HELPFUL LINKS: