Media Relations Staff Contact:
Voice: (916) 445-7442
FAX: (916) 322-2579
E-mail: media@dmhc.ca.gov
Mailing Address:
California Department of Managed Health Care
980 9th Street, Suite 500
Sacramento, CA 95814-2725
2017 Press Releases
December 8, 2017 - DMHC Fines Blue Shield of California and Care 1st Health Plan $457,500 for Consumer Grievance Violations
November 15, 2017 - DMHC Fines Anthem Blue Cross $5 Million for Systemic Grievance System Violations
October 6, 2017 - DMHC Director Rouillard Issues Statement on Federal Regulations Regarding Contraception Coverage
July 18, 2017 - DMHC, Kaiser Reach Agreement to Address Access to Behavioral Health Care Services
2016 Press Releases
November 14, 2016 - DMHC announces 2016 “Right Care Initiative” award recipients
November 10, 2016 - DMHC Fines Anthem Blue Cross $650,000 for Pattern of Grievance System Violations
October 6, 2016 - DMHC Launches Health Plan Dashboard, Making Data & Information More Transparent, Accessible
August 1, 2016 - DMHC Director Rouillard Issues Statement on Provider Directory Non-Routine Survey Follow-Up Reports for Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield of California
June 20, 2016 - DMHC Approves Aetna's Acquisition of Humana
May 3, 2016 - DMHC Fines Anthem $415,000 for Grievance System Violations
March 22, 2016 - DMHC Approves Centene’s Acquisition of Health Net
2015 Press Releases
November 5, 2015 - DMHC announces 2015 "Right Care Initiative" award recipients
November 3, 2015 - DMHC Fines Blue Shield and Anthem for Inaccurate Provider Directories
October 8, 2015 - Department of Managed Health Care Approves Blue Shield Acquisition of Care 1st
July 16, 2015 - Department of Managed Health Care Declares Premium Rate Increase by Aetna Unreasonable
May 6, 2015 - Department of Managed Health Care Declares Premium Rate Increase by Aetna Unreasonable
February 24, 2015 - DMHC Issues Follow-up Report on Kaiser’s Behavioral Health Services
2014 Press Releases
December 19, 2014 - Department of Managed Health Care Declares Premium Rate Increase by Aetna Unreasonable
October 23, 2014 - DMHC announces 2014 "Right Care Initiative" award recipients
May 6, 2014 - Department Appoints Conservator to Oversee Alameda Alliance for Health Due to Ongoing Financial Solvency Issues
January 7, 2014 - Department of Managed Health Care Orders Southwest Trauma Medical Associates to Stop Illegal Balance Billing
2013 Press Releases
December 5, 2013 - Department of Managed Health Care Director Shelley Rouillard issues statement on permanent injunction granted in People v. Martello
November 18, 2013 - DMHC Issues Cease and Desist Orders Against Health Net, Anthem Blue Cross, and Blue Shield for the Unlawful Denial of Medically Necessary Therapies
October 29, 2013 - DMHC announces 2013 "Right Care Initiative" award recipients
October 23, 2013 - Governor Brown Appoints Shelley Rouillard as Next Director of the Department of Managed Health Care
August 27, 2013 - DMHC Secures Agreement with United HealthCare to Provide Medically Necessary Speech Therapy
July 15, 2013 - DMHC Finds Covered California Proposed Health Plan Rates Not Unreasonable
June 25, 2013 - DMHC Fines Kaiser $4 million for Deficiencies that Limit Access to Mental Health Services
April 24, 2013 - DMHC Secures Agreement with Anthem Blue Cross to Pay Health Care Providers
April 16, 2013 - DMHC Appoints Consumer Advocate to Financial Solvency Standards Board
March 6, 2013 - Department of Managed Health Care Declares Health Plan Rate Increases by Blue Shield and Aetna Unreasonable
February 26, 2013 - California Department of Managed Health Care Renews Statewide Partnership to Help Californians Struggling with Health Care Coverage
February 14, 2013 - Provider Complaint Unit Address Change
2012 Press Releases
December 4, 2012 - DMHC announces the new online Independent Medical Review/Complaint Form
October 18, 2012 - Infographic: Department of Managed Health Care by the numbers
October 2, 2012 - DMHC announces "Right Care Initiative" award recipients
August 27, 2012 - California Receives $4.6 million to Enhance Health Care Consumer Assistance Program
August 16, 2012 - DMHC Releases Affordable Care Act Toolkits for Californians
July 16, 2012 - DMHC Orders Anthem Blue Cross to Stop Attempting to Collect Millions from California Health Care Providers They Claim were Overpaid
June 29, 2012 - Department of Managed Health Care Director Brent Barnhart issues statement on Supreme Court Ruling
June 13, 2012 - Department of Managed Health Care Director Brent Barnhart issues statement on preliminary injunction granted in People v. Martello
May 25, 2012 - DMHC Secures Agreement with Kaiser Health Plan to Provide Medically Necessary Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy
May 25, 2012 - Department of Health Care Services Notifies Medi-Cal Community Dental Enrollees of Transfer to Liberty Dental
April 2, 2012 - California Department of Managed Health Care Awards Grant to Consumers Union to Improve Accountability and Transparency in Health Plan Rate Setting
February 27, 2012 - DMHC Issues Cease and Desist Order Against Kaiser Health Plan Due to Denials of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy
February 21, 2012 - California Department of Managed Health Care Launches Statewide Partnership to Help Californians Struggling to Secure Health Care Coverage
January 30, 2012 - Department of Managed Health Care Convenes Autism Advisory Task Force
January 12, 2012 - DMHC Orders Anthem Blue Cross to Pay Health Care Providers for Services Dating Back to 2007
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2011 Press Releases
October 12, 2011 - DMHC Bars Unlicensed Health Insurance Agent from Selling Medicare Advantage Plans, Director Offers Tips to Avoid Deceptive, Misleading and Aggressive Sales Tactics Illegal under California Law
October 6, 2011 - DMHC announces “Right Care Initiative” award recipients
October 4, 2011 - DMHC announces senior staff appointment
August 25, 2011 - Department of Managed Health Care issues statement on ruling in California Association of Health Plans vs. Lucinda Ehnes
August 15, 2011 - DMHC releases Request for Proposals for Consumer Assistance Program Partner Grants totaling $1.6 million
August 11, 2011 - Governor Brown Announces DMHC Appointments
August 5, 2011 - California’s Independent Medical Review Process for Denials of Care Meet Highest Federal Healthcare Reform Standard
July 19, 2011 - DMHC secures agreement with Anthem Blue Cross to expand coverage for autism treatments
July 14, 2011 - DMHC secures agreement with Blue Shield of California to expand coverage for autism treatments
April 29, 2011 - Kern Health Systems request for lower standards to provide timely care to patients denied
April 29, 2011 - DMHC declares May 1 Anthem Blue Cross rate increase unreasonable
April 19, 2011 - DMHC questions recent Blue Shield individual rate increase calculations averaging 37.5 percent
April 7, 2011 - DMHC asks Anthem Blue Cross to explain why rate increases for approximately 120,000 enrollees in individual coverage policies are justified
March 14, 2011 - Health Net Security Breach May Affect California Enrollees
April 7, 2011 Director's Letter - 6 - K Information Security
February 15, 2011 - Critical New Window To Sign Up For Children's Health Insurance Highlighted
January 4, 2011 - Court rules in favor of DMHC consumer protections for patients with autism
2010 Press Releases
December 29, 2010 - New rules making California the first state in the nation to shorten the waiting time for an appointment take effect mid-January
November 29, 2010 - DMHC announces nearly $5 million in health plan fines for improper payment of provider claims
October 21, 2012 - DMHC announces Financial Solvency Standards Board Meeting on 11/03/2010
October 20, 2010 - DMHC announces Right Care Initiative awards
October 29, 2010 - California awarded $3.4 million to assist consumers to learn about and enroll in programs under federal health care reform
September 8, 2010 - DMHC Releases Ten Year Report on Health Care Consumer Protections
August 16, 2010 - California awarded $1 million rate review grant
August 11, 2010 - Federal Trade Commission takes action against HealthcareOne LLC
July 13, 2010 - DMHC bars Folsom health insurance agent from selling Medicare Advantage plans
July 8, 2010 - DMHC appoints expert panel to study impact of health care reform on California health plans and providers
July 7, 2010 - Federal rate review grant application submitted by Schwarzenegger Administration
June 22, 2010 - DMHC announces appointment of Chief of Enforcement
May 24, 2010 - DMHC settles lawsuit against Prime Healthcare to remove last challenge to state ban on balance billing of patients
March 17, 2010 - DMHC Issues Sanctions Against Predatory Health Insurance Agent
March 15, 2010 - DMHC Announces Help Center Appointment
March 10, 2010 - DMHC Actions to Curb Rescission Activities
February 22, 2010 - DMHC Moves to Protect Consumers By Licensing Discount Health Card Companies
January 20, 2010 - The Doctor Will See You Now! - California shortens wait times for patient appointments
2009 Press Releases
November 17, 2009 - DMHC given ACE award for employment of persons with disabilities
September 22, 2009 - Wind Youth Services Press Release: WIND Youth Services Awarded $400,000 Grant from UnitedHealth Group / PacifiCare to Continue the Creation of a Personalized Information System for Homeless and Marginalized Youth in Sacramento County
July 30, 2009 - DMHC Orders Discount Health Card Companies to Stop Selling in California
July 7, 2009 - DMHC gains lifetime ban against insurance brokers from selling health coverage in California
June 30, 2009 - DMHC issues statement regarding Consumer Watchdog legal action on health care coverage for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder
June 12, 2009 - Updated regulations to cut patient appointment waiting time released
June 11, 2009 - DMHC licenses first medical discount health plan in California
March 30, 2009 - Local healthy lifestyles program for non-English speakers unveiled
March 13, 2009 - DMHC Announces Senior Staff Appointment
March 9, 2009 - State Office Closure
February 18, 2009 - DMHC Announces Grant to Provide Better Health Care for Patients throughout Los Angeles County via Health Information Technology
January 27, 2009 - $5.7 Million in Grants Awarded for Innovative Projects to Improve Health Information Technology, Targeted at Underserved Areas
January 16, 2009 - DMHC implements secured email system
January 12, 2009 - DMHC announces language assistance services for health plan members who speak little or no English
January 8, 2009 - DMHC Director Issues Statement on California Supreme Court Ruling Forbidding Balance Billing of Health Care Consumers
2008 Press Releases
December 22, 2008 - DMHC Announces Logo Changes
December 3, 2008 - DMHC ban on balance billing of consumers affirmed by court
December 1, 2008 - DMHC announces senior staff appointment
November 18, 2008 - Health care help for California wildfire victims
October 29, 2008 - DMHC announces first “Right Care Initiative” award recipients
October 14, 2008 - Regulations take effect outlawing the practice of “balance billing” for emergency care
August 12, 2008 - DMHC sends out first round of notifications offering coverage to rescinded consumers
August 1, 2008 - DMHC Builds on Efforts to Protect Patients from Unfair and Unexpected Bills
July 21, 2008 - DMHC requests help from Health Plans to aid fire victims
July 19, 2008 - DMHC Announces Grant to Provide Better Health Care for California Farmworkers through Personal Health Cards
July 17, 2008 - DMHC Director Ehnes issues statement regarding settlement with Anthem Blue Cross to offer coverage to 1770 formerly rescinded members
July 17, 2008 - DMHC secures coverage for 450 rescinded members of Blue Shield of California; subject to a total of $5 million fine
July 1, 2008 - DMHC Seeks Court Action to Prevent Prime Healthcare from Balance Billing any HMO Member
June 18, 2008 - Department of Managed Health Continues Landmark Efforts to Extend Coverage to Consumers Stripped of Health Coverage
May 7, 2008 - DMHC Director Cindy Ehnes named the 2008 Public Administrator of the Year
March 19, 2008 - DMHC announces $500,000 grant to educate health care consumers about their right to treatment, prescription drugs
March 5, 2008 - DMHC attorney Pat Sturdevant named the 2008 Attorney of the Year in the healthcare category by California Lawyer magazine
February 26, 2008 - Public Education Campaign Targets High Price of Dental Coverage
January 29, 2008 - DMHC and CDI Take Historic Joint Action Against PacifiCare to Halt Bad Claims Payments
January 18, 2008 - More than $6 Million in Grants Awarded for Innovative Projects to Improve Health IT, Targeted at Underserved Areas
2007 Press Releases
December 5, 2007 - Public Education Campaign Targets High Price of Dental Coverage
November 27, 2007 - Department of Managed Health Care Announces Senior Staff Appointment
November 15, 2007 - Department of Managed Health Care fines Health Net for not disclosing bonus program for employees considering cancellation of health policies
October 26, 2007 - DMHC gains agreement from Blue Cross to stop use of unfair negotiating tactics with hospitals and health care providers
October 23, 2007 - DMHC releases plan to end illegal health insurance rescissions
August 20, 2007 - DMHC Announces Deputy Director Appointment
July 26, 2007 - DMHC releases report on Kaiser quality assurance programs
July 9, 2007 - DMHC to hold public meeting to examine Blue Cross of California merger agreements
June 5, 2007 - DMHC negotiates agreement extending time for new Blue Cross of California doctor payments to go into effect
May 17, 2007 - DMHC orders PacifiCare of California to let its members remain with the Sequoia Network
April 23, 2007 - New life for California kidney transplant patients
March 22, 2007 - DMHC fines Blue Cross of California for illegally rescinding health insurance policies
March 9, 2007 - DMHC Announces Senior Staff Appointments
March 1, 2007 - Language assistance now a reality for limited-English speaking California HMO members
February 1, 2007 - $1 Million Mark in Recovered Payments for Health Care Providers Reached by DMHC
2006 Press Releases
October 12, 2006 - DMHC Licenses First Discount Health Card Plan in California
September 21, 2006 - Blue Cross of California Fined by State for Wrongly Rescinding A Patient's Health Insurance Policy
August 10, 2006 - DMHC Requires Kaiser Foundation Health Plan to Pay $5 Million for Failures at San Francisco Kidney Transplant Center
July 26, 2006 - UC Merced and UC Riverside Receive a $10 Million Award to Fund Medical Education Feasibility Studies
July 25, 2006 - Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Directive to Protect Patients from Disputed Out-of-Pocket Emergency Medical Costs
Febrary 16, 2006 - DMHC proposes regulations for health plans to provide interpreters in doctor's offices and clinics
2005 Press Releases
December 30, 2005 - DMHC orders Blue Cross of California to cancel the January 1 reassignment of Beaver Medical Group members to new doctors
December 19, 2005 - DMHC issues Order of Approval for the Notice of Material Modification to PacifiCare of CA's Knox-Keene License
November 23, 2005 - DMHC releases independent auditor review of 2005 Blue Cross of California premium increases
July 5, 2005 - DMHC fines Blue Cross for Computer Error Overcharging Customers
June 20, 2005 - Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Fined by State for Exposing Patient Information on Web
March 17, 2005 - DMHC orders Bay Area blogger to remove Kaiser patient information from Web
March 7, 2005 - DMHC approves restructuring of Sharp Health Plan's government programs
Febraury 25, 2005 - Discount Health Plans Crack Down by State Stops False and Misleading Advertising
February 17, 2005 - Department of Managed Care Orders Blue Cross of California to continue sending patients to Pomona Valley Medical Center
January 13, 2005 - Health Net HMO Fined by State for Failing to Correctly Reimburse Emergency Room and Hospital-based Doctors
January 5, 2005 - Discount Health Plans Crack Down by State Stops False and Misleading Advertising
January 4, 2005 - Department of Managed Care Announces New Prescription Drug Protections for HMO Consumers
2004 Press Releases
November 9, 2004 - Statement Regarding Department of Insurance Approval of Anthem-WellPoint Merger
September 23, 2004 - Department of Managed Health Care Cracks Down on Fraudulent Discount Health Companies
September 13, 2004 - Department of Managed Health Care Announces New Chief of Enforcement
August 6, 2004 - DMHC Approves Majority of Plan to Narrow Blue Shield HMO Network
July 23, 2004 - DMHC Approves WellPoint-Anthem Material Modification