Independent Assistance For Health Care Consumers
REFERRALS, RESOURCES AND RESEARCH LINKS
The Health Rights Hotline seeks to provide links to reliable and useful sources of information, reflecting a wide array of perspectives and interests. However, the Health Rights Hotline has no control over such sites and information. The Health Rights Hotline makes no guarantees regarding sites and information, including the accuracy, currency, content, or quality of any such sites and information, or whether Health Rights Hotline links may locate unintended or objectionable material. The information and opinions found on Internet sites linked from the Health Rights Hotline do not reflect the views of the Health Rights Hotline, or constitute or imply an endorsement of that site, its contents, or the sponsoring organization.
- Medical and Health Related Research - Medical Condition and General Medical Information
- Medical and Health Related Research - Drug Information
- Consumer Advocacy, Health Policy and Industry Organizations
- Quality Reporting Groups
- Government Regulatory Agencies
- Legal and Research Agencies
- Search Engines
- Sacramento Area Health Providers
MEDICAL AND HEALTH RELATED RESEARCH
- MEDICAL CONDITION AND
GENERAL MEDICAL INFORMATION
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Federal agency that researches quality of care and develops clinical guidelines for disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Web site includes on-line access to clinical practice guidelines and consumer oriented health information.
Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
Maintains an on-line Directory of condition-related organizations, with links to organizational Web sites. The Directory is not limited to genetic conditions and is an excellent source to locate organizations for most health related conditions.
Useful features for consumers include: Doctor finder, Hospital finder, medical news and journals. The Education link leads to other medical sites, including regional and national specialty societies and condition and illness related resources.
Family Village, A Global Community of Disability-Related Resources
Provides information and resources for people with disabilities, their families and care givers. Includes information on specific diagnosis, adaptive technology, special education and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities.
Includes links to national and international organizations for genetic conditions and birth defects, a page for people with rare and undiagnosed conditions, links to individual support groups, Americans with Disabilities Act information and Government consumer health information.
Managed Care Jargon & Glossary of Terms
Sponsored by the Georgia Business Forum on Health, defines many common terms used in managed health care.
A consumer health network offering medical information and support services.
A resource for full-text, peer-reviewed clinical medicine articles. Access to Medical Matrix is free but registration is required.
A resource for full-text, peer-reviewed clinical medicine articles. Access to Medscape is free but registration is required.
A health products company with an educational and informational web site; publications include versions of the Merck Manual of Medical Information and the Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, searchable on-line.
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Conducts research, training, and public education programs for disease prevention and control strategies. Web site includes information on many diseases, diagnosis and prevention.
One of the world's foremost biomedical research centers, with 24 separate Institutes and Centers; provides many health information resources for consumers, including free MEDLINE (a searchable database of published articles), the Combined Health Information Database (CHID) and the Home Page for the Office of Rare Diseases.
TheDoctorWillSeeYouNow.com is a group of 18 distinguished physicians and a bioethicist from 15 U.S. medical schools, all of whom teach and do research in their areas of expertise. The authors of TheDoctorWillSeeYouNow.com write the articles or invite equally renowned guest colleagues to do so. This site brings viewers not only the most up-to-date medical information but also a perspective on various medical advances.
WWW Virtual Library: Biosciences: Medicine
Sponsored by the Oregon Health Sciences University, this site maintains an alphabetical list of providers of medical information on the Internet, including hospitals and universities worldwide. Links include: Harvard University Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Neurology Web-Forum; Johns Hopkins University Medical Institutions Infonet; Mayo Foundation and Clinic; University of Michigan Clearinghouse for Subject-Oriented Internet Resources; Oregon Health Sciences University, Informed Patient Decision Group; World Health Organization; Yale University, Emerging Infections Information Network.
MEDICAL AND HEALTH RELATED RESEARCH - DRUG INFORMATION
Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs
This website provides information that will help you open a conversation with your doctor about prescription medicines–and particularly about which medicines will best meet your medical needs and give you the most value for your health care dollar.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
PhRMA membership represents companies that develop new drugs. Web site includes sections for Drugs in Development, industry Facts and Figures, and a consumer Health Guides series.
Prescription Drug Information (FDA)
Maintained by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, this site explains the risks and benefits of purchasing prescription drugs online, offers tips for determining whether a particular pharmacy website is trustworthy, and explains how to report suspicious pharmacy websites to the FDA for investigation.
RxList-The Internet Drug Index
A searchable database of most prescription drugs currently on the US Market or close to approval, with information about when the drugs should be taken and side effects.
CONSUMER ADVOCACY, HEALTH POLICY AND INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS
Administrators in Medicine (AIM)
Web site for the Association of State Medical Board Executive Directors DocFinder, the health professional licensing database. Web site includes links to state medical societies and allows searches of state medical boards.
American Association of Health Plans
The American Association of Health Plans (AAHP) represents HMOs, PPOs and similar plans. Web site includes information for consumers on how to choose a health plan.
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
A nonprofit legal advocacy organization based in Washington D.C. which advocates for the civil rights and human dignity of people with mental disability and mental retardation. Web site includes alerts and advocacy resources.
California HealthCare Foundation
Private foundation that seeks to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of the people of California. This site includes a free daily health news summary available to Californians.
California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR)
A non-profit information and advocacy organization for nursing home residents, their families and friends. CANHR maintains information on all nursing homes in California, including profiles of services, citations, complaints and deficiencies, as well as lists of nursing homes by county. The Web site also includes a variety of referral information for consumers.
California Alliance for the Mentally Ill
A statewide nonprofit advocacy group of families, friends, recovering persons with mental illness and professionals who are dedicated to improving the care, treatment, rehabilitation and status of people with mental illness. Web site includes journal articles on-line.
California Coalition for Ethical Mental Health Care
A grassroots organization of mental health care clients and patients, consumer advocates, and professionals, dedicated to preserving the quality, integrity and confidentiality of mental health care through public and professional education, and through legal and legislative action. Web site includes a variety of educational and resource materials for public and professional distribution.
California Health Advocates is the association of 26 Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Programs (HICAP) in California. The website offers free fact sheets on Medicare, including Medicare HMO's and links to other organizations.
California Medical Association
The California Medical Association works to ensure quality health care for all Californians. The CMA Web site includes information for consumers, a medical Web guide, and California Doctorfinder.
Citizens for the Right to Know
Provides the drug formulary lists for most of the major health plans in California.
A national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans. Web site includes information about federal health care legislation, ways for consumers to become involved, and Managed Care Central, a Families USA Web site dedicated to managed care issues.
A national, nonprofit organization that promotes information sharing, cross-sector collaboration and advocacy among individuals and organizations working on a broad range of public interest issues. HandsNet links some 5,000 public interest and human service organizations across the United States. The Web site offers daily news, alerts, and resources articles.
Health Administration Responsibility Project (HARP)
A resource for patients, doctors and attorneys seeking to establish the liability of managed care organizations and nursing facilities for the consequences of their decisions.
Health Care Liability Alliance (HCLA)
A national advocacy coalition that supports federal health care liability reform. HCLA members are individuals and organizations representing physicians, hospitals, blood banks, liability insurers, health device manufacturers, health care insurers, business, producers of medicines and the biotechnology industry.
HCA is a partnership of consumer assistance programs in California operated by community-based legal service organizations. Our common mission is to help low-income people obtain essential health care. This website includes consumer brochures in eleven languages, contact information for HCA's six Health Consumer Centers, advocate issue briefs, reports, and newsletters.
Health Hippo houses a large collection of policy and regulatory materials related to health care.
Founded in 1971 by Ralph Nader and Dr. Sidney Wolfe to promote research-based changes in health care policy in addition to providing advice and oversight concerning drugs, medical devices, doctors and hospitals and occupational health. Web site includes a list of publications, some of which are available on-line, organized by general category.
A magazine and on-line service for health care consumers, publishes reader-friendly information on general health care topics and comparative information on doctors, hospitals and health plans.
Lumetra is a non-profit organization dedicated to measurably improving the quality, safety, and integrity of healthcare. As the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for California.
An interactive site that provides comparison information on costs, benefits and quality on Medicare health plans by state, or specific geographic area.
National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems
An association which represents federally mandated programs that protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The Web site includes a directory of Protection and Advocacy agencies around the country, as well as a consumer's guide outlining how people with developmental disabilities and their families can advocate for and evaluate quality services.
National Health Law Program (NHeLP)
A national public interest law firm that seeks to improve health care for America's working and unemployed poor, minorities, the elderly and people with disabilities. NHeLP serves legal services programs, community-based organizations, the private bar, providers and individuals who work to preserve a health care safety net for the millions of uninsured or underinsured low-income people. Web site includes reports, essays and papers by NHeLP and other advocacy organizations.
National Managed Health Care Congress
Seeks to provide timely information to the health care and biopharmaceutical industries through a range of products and services, including conferences and expositions, in-house training programs, publications, audio packages, and an international society for disease management professionals.
National Mental Health Association
Dedicated to improving the mental health of all individuals, preventing mental disorders and achieving victory over mental illnesses through advocacy, education, research and service. The Web site information center includes on-line fact sheets and position statements of the NMHA.
Sacramento Regional Children's Health Project
The Regional Children's Health Project (RCHP) is a collaborative effort to improve the health and well-being of children in the Sacramento region by increasing access to affordable health coverage. RCHP staff are available to assist parents in applying for health coverage programs such as Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, AIM-Access for Infants and Mothers, California Kids and Kaiser Permanente's Child Health Plan. Assistance is available throughout Sacramento County at community locations. Assistance is available in multiple languages.
QUALITY REPORTING GROUPS
California Consumer Health Scope
Provides information on health plan benefits, and quality report cards to assist consumers in comparing HMOs.
Foundation for Accountability (FACCT)
FACCT is a nonprofit organization that creates tools to help people understand and use quality information about health plans.
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
An independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Web site includes information to help consumers choose a health plan.
National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
A non-profit that assesses and reports on the quality of managed care plans. Web site includes a list of plans with accreditation summary reports available.
GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCIES
California Dept of Managed Health Care
The Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) regulates health plans (primarily HMO's) in California. Their web site includes information and forms for filing complaints against health plans, a list of California-licensed health plans and consumer complaint data collected through the DMHC HMO Helpline. The web site also posts meetings of the advisory committees to the DMHC.
California Dept of Health Services
Works to protect and improve the health of all Californians. Web site includes information on residents' rights in nursing homes, and consumer health warnings.
DOI regulates the California insurance industry. Web site includes information for consumers on rate comparisons, enforcement actions and filing complaints against insurance companies.
California State Government Web Site
This is the official State Web site where links to all California government agencies can be found.
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
The federal agency charged with protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Web site includes "healthfinder," a gateway consumer health and human services information web site that leads to selected online publications, clearinghouses, databases, web sites, and support and self-help groups, as well as the government agencies and not-for-profit organizations that produce reliable information for the public.
The Department of Labor regulates employee benefit plans, including employer-sponsored health benefit plans. Web site includes information on employee health plans and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
U.S. Health Care Financing Administration
The federal agency that administers the Medicare, Medicaid and Child Health Insurance programs. Web site includes research and statistical data.
LEGAL RESEARCH AND RESOURCES
A well-organized and comprehensive starting place for legal research.
A service of the U.S. Government Printing Office that provides free electronic access to a wealth of important information products produced by the Federal Government.
Internet Legal Resources on Special Education and Disabilities
From the University of Virginia Curry School of Education, a directory of Internet special education and disability related legal resources.
Martindale Hubbel Lawyer Locator
A searchable professional legal directory with attorney profiles.
Thomas: Legislative Information on the Internet
Library of Congress Web site for legislative information on the Internet.
U.S. House of Reps Law Library
The law library of the U.S. House of Representatives.
A searchable professional legal directory with attorney profiles.
SACRAMENTO AREA HEALTH PLANS
Health PlansBlue CrossDental Plans
Blue Shield
CorVel Healthcare Corp.
Health Net
Kaiser Permanente
Molina Healthcare
Nationwide Health Plans (formerly CalFarm)
PacifiCare
Principal Plan
Western Health Advantage
Access DentalVision Plans
Delta Dental Plan of California
Healthdent of California
Premier Access Insurance
Western Dental
Vision Service PlanAlternative Health Care Plans
Landmark Healthplan of CaliforniaSpecial Programs
Access for Infants and Mothers Program (AIM)Hospitals - Acute Care
Healthy Families Program
Major Risk Medical Insurance Program
Barton Memorial HospitalHospitals - Behavioral Health
Kaiser Permanente Medical CentersRosevilleKindred Hospital of Sacramento
Sacramento
South Sacramento
Marshall Hospital
Mercy Healthcare Sacramento (Catholic Healthcare West)Mercy General HospitalShriners Hospital for Children Northern California
Mercy Hospital of Folsom
Mercy San Juan Medical Center
Methodist Hospital of Sacramento
Sutter HealthSutter Auburn Faith HospitalUC Davis Health System
Sutter Davis Hospital
Sutter General Hospital
Sutter Memorial Hospital
Sutter Roseville Medical Center
Woodland Healthcare
Heritage Oaks HospitalMedical Groups and Independent Practice Associations (IPAs)
Sacramento County Mental Health Treatment Center
Sutter Center for Psychiatry
Hill Physicians
MedClinic Medical Group
River City Medical Group
Sutter Independent Physicians
Sutter Medical Group
Sutter West Medical Group
UC Davis Medical Group
Woodland Healthcare
SEARCH ENGINES
Altavista
Excite
Lawcrawler
Webcrawler
Yahoo!