01/05/2009
Christopher Ohman will be leaving his post as president and CEO of the California Association of Health Plans on Jan. 16. Rick Martin has been named deputy director for plan and health care provider relations at the California Department of Managed Health Care.
12/23/2008
A growing number of large companies, including Intel and Walt Disney, are offering on-site health clinics aimed at improving employees' health, cutting medical costs and reducing the amount of time employees spend out of the office for physician visits. San Francisco Chronicle.
12/23/2008
The Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit alleges that UnitedHealth Group concealed from shareholders more than $1 billion in stock option compensation between 1994 and 2005. UnitedHealth Group will not admit or deny wrongdoing in the settlement. St. Paul Pioneer Press et al.
12/22/2008
Probe Information Services, a California firm that investigates workers' compensation fraud, says it has investigated 20% more cases of fraud since 2006. The company and law enforcement officials expect workers' compensation fraud cases to continue to increase with the economic downturn and growing unemployment. Sacramento Bee.
12/19/2008
A new report from the California Workers' Compensation Institute found that physician networks are providing a growing share of medical care for California workers who are injured on the job. Sacramento Business Journal.
12/15/2008
Despite changes to the state's workers' compensation system that have reduced employers' costs by as much as $15 billion annually, California still ranks second nationwide in terms of employer burden, according to the 2008 Industry Week Workers' Compensation State Ranking. Only Alaska's workers' compensation program placed a higher burden on employers, according to the survey. Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert."
12/10/2008
Los Angeles Times columnist David Lazarus argues that the employer-based health insurance system "fails to serve the interest of both the American people and U.S. businesses." He adds, "The employer-based system isn't our only choice, and we should be open to alternatives." Los Angeles Times.
12/09/2008
Sacramento County's program that subsidized health benefits for small businesses shut down last month, leaving many employers to decide whether to continue providing the benefits. Twenty-four firms that participated already have dropped benefits for workers. Sacramento Business Journal.
12/08/2008
Since its peak in October 2007, CalPERS' portfolio has lost more than 30% of its value. CalPERS could ask state and local employers to raise their contributions to the pension fund if the declines continue. CalPERS purchases health care benefits for about 1.6 million California workers, retirees and their families. San Francisco Chronicle.
12/08/2008
A nationwide campaign will solicit Americans' views on health care reform as part of a strategy by President-elect Barack Obama's transition team to gear up for action on health care reform. Former Sen. Tom Daschle -- Obama's pick for HHS secretary -- kicked off the campaign last week. Denver Post et al.
12/05/2008
The number of hospital stays for work-related injuries in the state decreased significantly between 2002 and 2006, according to a report from the California Workers' Compensation Institute. The report attributed the decrease to fewer workers' compensation claims overall and reforms to the workers' compensation system. Sacramento Business Journal.
12/04/2008
America's Health Insurance Plans announced a plan that aims to expand coverage to all Americans in large part by reining in health care cost increases. Aides to Sens. Kennedy and Baucus -- who are pushing health care reform in the Senate -- commended insurers for offering an overhaul plan. Wall Street Journal.
12/03/2008
Lobbyists representing health insurers and other businesses regularly are participating in talks about efforts to overhaul the U.S. health care system. The groups were fierce opponents of health care reform efforts in the 1990s. Supporters of health care reform say that significant challenges nonetheless will lie ahead for any effort to rework the health care system next year. Boston Globe.
12/02/2008
An executive from a consumer advocacy group called the appointment of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez to Zenith National Insurance's board "the revolving door working at its worst." Núñez was Assembly speaker when workers' compensation reforms were passed in 2004. Sacramento Bee.
12/01/2008
Ed Penhoet stepped down as vice chair of California's stem cell agency, but he was tapped for a seat on the agency's oversight board. Meanwhile, the CEO of UC-Irvine Medical Center announced that she would retire in March.