What’s happening: A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge has designated a lawsuit brought by CHA against Anthem Blue Cross a “complex case,” requiring exceptional judicial management.
What else to know: CHA’s suit challenges Anthem’s failure to authorize and arrange for access to timely and appropriate post-hospital health care services for its members. The next activity in the case will be an initial status conference on Oct. 3.
Under California’s court rules, a “complex case” is one that requires exceptional judicial management to avoid placing unnecessary burdens on the court or the parties and to expedite the case, keep costs reasonable, and promote effective decision making. A complex case is assigned to a single judge for all pre-trial and trial proceedings. This case has been assigned to Judge Kenneth Freeman of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
At the status conference, each party’s legal team must be prepared to discuss with the judge a wide range of issues: the core facts and legal questions, anticipated motions, a discovery plan, and recommended dates for various activities. Until the status conference, neither party can engage in any formal discovery or file motions.
In April 2024, CHA filed a lawsuit against Anthem Blue Cross accusing it of violating the Knox-Keene Act. The law requires health plans to promptly arrange and authorize post-acute care for members who are medically cleared for discharge, and to cover the cost of hospitalization while members wait for Anthem to make these arrangements. In late June, before Anthem could file its proposed motion challenging the complaint, the court determined the case is “complex.”
