Posted on 09/07/2010 10:36:43 PM PDT by Cardhu
California regulators are seeking fines of up to $9.9 billion from health insurer PacifiCare over allegations that it repeatedly mismanaged medical claims, lost thousands of patient documents, failed to pay doctors what they were owed and ignored calls to fix the problems.
In court filings and other documents, the California Department of Insurance says PacifiCare violated state law nearly 1 million times from 2006 to 2008 after it was purchased by UnitedHealth Group Inc., the nation's largest health insurance company by revenue.
Regulators said the companies broke promises to maintain smooth operations for 130,000 of PacifiCare's customers, resulting in what insurance officials nationwide believe is the largest fine ever sought against a U.S. health insurer.
"This is about intentional disregard for the interests of doctors, hospitals and patients in California, and the pursuit of cutting costs at any means possible," said Adam Cole, the insurance department's general counsel. "It's a story of intense corporate greed."
PacifiCare and UnitedHealth Group have rejected the state's assertions, and they are fighting the proposed fines in a lengthy legal hearing that began 10 months ago in Oakland and could conclude as early as next month.
The insurers maintain that the state's case largely involves administrative errors that did little harm to anyone. They point out that three-quarters of the allegations relate to PacifiCare's alleged failure during a short period in 2007 to inform doctors and patients in correspondence of their right to appeal coverage decisions.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Balancing the budget through more theft.
The only solution is a complete government takeover, dontchaknow.
Hugo Chavez would be proud...
LOL!
Yes, when Government sues for efficiency issues, it’s smells to high heaven for those big, fat bloated retirements that keep toll takers and underworked AA hires on the putting green while I slave to scrape out a living.
“...those big, fat bloated retirements that keep toll takers and underworked AA hires on the putting green while I slave to scrape out a living.”
###
Average age of fully vested, retired “educators” I see in my practice:
~ 56
LAUSD - 3,600 full time employees earning an average of $88,000 and 800+ contractors earning $215,000.
These are the teacher’s UNIONS, not in classrooms.
$600,000,000 schools in low income neighborhoods.
Education and unions will eventually force every business out of CA and then the will find out how much illegals “contribute”. Idiots.
They jacked me around for over a year beginning in 2007. I had previously wondered how a company so incredibly incompetent could remain in business...now I know it was possibly intentional.
Yes, you understand. Me be suspicious too.
$9 billion in fines.
And the Democrats are left wondering why businesses aren’t hiring in this environment.
Obama and his assclowns to the rescue! Nothing that a complete government takeover can’t fix.
It looks like the company did some things wrong and should be fined, but 9 billions dollars?
Like many of you said, a fat lamb to sacrifice for the state budget.
California needs the money. They will sue Arnie next.
9.9 billlion, at least they are not dumb enough to ask for ten billion then you would be talking real money.
9.9 billion in fines, 130,000 customers. Your share is approx......................yeah, right.
Here’s the problem, they will recognize the 9.9B as income now and claim they have balanced the budget.
They will now go around and fine companies for anything, recognize revenue and hand out raises and larger pensions to the state employees.
California is beyond repair.
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