What’s happening: A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge has ruled on CHA’s lawsuit against Anthem Blue Cross, finding that it is the responsibility of health plans to arrange for and transition to post-acute care services for their members.
What else to know: Despite finding in favor of CHA on key points, the judge nonetheless decided to “abstain” from further involvement in the case.
Specifically, Judge Kenneth Freeman ruled that the Legislature in the Knox-Keene Act, at Health & Safety Code Section 1367.01(h)(3), clearly required health plans not to discontinue a patient’s hospital care until a post-acute care plan has been agreed to with the treating provider. CHA is now evaluating possible next steps.
In the meantime, CHA continues to press for accountability for those insurance companies that put a greater emphasis on their bottom lines than on patient care.
Jackie Garman
Patricia Blaisdell
