Recent CA Health News and Reports

The California Department of Insurance chronicles substantial events in the CA healthcare industry with issued releases and statements. The announcements below represent some of the most recent developments in the industry, and will continue to be updated as additional newsworthy events occur.

Bay Area Chiropractor Arrested for Alleged Insurance Fraud (April 25, 2006)

SACRAMENTO –Commissioner Garamendi announced today that Dr. Linda Fang, a Bay Area chiropractor, has been arrested for insurance fraud.  Dr. Fang is charged with submitting fraudulent claims, giving false information to support those claims, and grand theft.  The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case, and she is being held with bail set at $100,000.

Dangers of Health Savings Accounts  (January 31, 2006)

Commissioner Garamendi issued a caution today, saying that President Bush’s plan to use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) was “bad medicine” for a damaged health care system.  Much research has been done by the Department of Insurance and academics, which says that this plan will hurt the nation’s ability to provide health care to those who require it the most.  Garamendi also feels that a HSA plan would eventually be of assistance to only the prosperous and healthy people, and that the underprivileged and would be hurt by it.  Many more risks and concerns are also behind the Commissioner’s words of advice. 

Merger of Unitedhealth and Pacificare Life and Health  (December 19, 2005)

Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi approved an agreement worth $9.2 billion today, which will allow Unitedhealth and Pacificare Life and Health to merge.  The agreement makes certain that Californians will not have to pay higher premiums or in any other way to help pay for the merger.  In addition, $250 million will go toward healthcare improvements in communities needing it the most.  This will help develop physical and technological communications, medical education, and public programs like Medicare, MediCal and Healthy Families programs. 

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