01/05/2009
On Jan. 1, the state Department of Managed Health Care implemented new regulations that require health and dental plans to provide translators to members who have limited English language skills. The rules have been in the works for five years. Sacramento Bee.
01/05/2009
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has given the state Department of Health Care Services 120 days to report on steps it has taken to implement a 2002 state law that aimed to expand Medi-Cal to people who are HIV-positive but have not developed AIDS. Modern Healthcare, Bloomberg.
01/05/2009
On Jan. 1, various health care-related laws took effect in California. For example, new laws aim to establish a new state privacy office and require physicians to provide terminally ill patients with information about end-of-life care options. Los Angeles Times et al.
01/05/2009
Two California laws permit insurers to take into account a member's gender when determining premiums for individual health insurance policies. San Francisco's city attorney has pledged to sue the state if the laws are not repealed. San Francisco Chronicle.
01/05/2009
Twenty-four health plans in California administer Healthy Families benefits, and a state survey found that consumer satisfaction was highest for Health Plan of San Joaquin County. Six other health plans surpassed the average consumer satisfaction rating. Stockton Record.
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
With unemployment on the rise, a growing number of U.S. residents will lose their health insurance. Those unemployed workers' options for health insurance are limited and expensive. San Francisco Chronicle.
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
On Thursday, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it has corrected a computer glitch that wrongfully denied benefits to an estimated 600,000 widows of veterans for the past 12 years and that it will issue retroactive benefit checks. Washington Times.
12/18/2008
On Wednesday, CalPERS named Anne Stausboll, a lawyer and top CalPERS executive since 2004, as its new CEO. CalPERS manages health and pension benefits for 1.6 million California public employees, retirees and their families. Over the last 18 months, the pension fund has seen a 26% drop in the value of its investments. Los Angeles Times et al.
12/18/2008
California Rep. Pete Stark said that Congress could wait to vote on legislation to overhaul the health care system until late in 2009 or 2010. Stark said that lawmakers first will have to direct their attention to smaller-scale health care matters and other "deferred maintenance" issues. The Hill et al.
12/17/2008
Insurers are urging employees and satisfied health plan members to participate in community meetings and house parties focused on health care reform. The transition team of President-elect Barack Obama is using the forums to collect feedback on the health care system. New York Times.
12/16/2008
Given the weak economy, health plans in the state -- including Kaiser Permanente, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Health Net of California and UnitedHealth/PacifiCare of California -- are expecting a drop in health plan enrollees. San Francisco Business Times.
12/15/2008
Recent actions against so-called "balance billing" in California are intended to keep patients out of billing disputes between health care providers and health plans. At least nine other states have prohibited balance billing. Sacramento Bee.
12/12/2008
On Thursday, the Blue Shield of California Foundation announced that it is awarding $5.8 million in Q4 grants to 25 not-for-profit groups statewide. The grants are designed to increase access to health care and coverage, boost health care quality and help curb domestic violence in the state, according to officials. San Francisco Business Times.