This section features press releases issued by the DMHC as well as recent articles related to the DMHC.

Media Relations Staff

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

Press Releases

2016

• 11/14/2016 - DMHC announces 2016 “Right Care Initiative” award recipients
• 11/10/16 - DMHC Fines Anthem Blue Cross $650,000 for Pattern of Grievance System Violations
• 10/6/2016 -  DMHC Launches Health Plan Dashboard, Making Data & Information More Transparent, Accessible
• 8/1/2016 - DMHC Director Rouillard Issues Statement on Provider Directory Non-Routine Survey Follow-Up Reports for Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield of California
• 6/20/2016 - DMHC Approves Aetna's Acquisition of Humana
• Undertakings

   

• 5/3/2016 - DMHC Fines Anthem $415,000 for Grievance System Violations
• 3/22/2016 - DMHC Approves Centene’s Acquisition of Health Net
  • Undertakings

2015   

• 11/5/15 -  DMHC announces 2015 "Right Care Initiative" award recipients

• 11/03/15 - DMHC Fines Blue Shield and Anthem for Inaccurate Provider Directories

• 10/8/15 - Department of Managed Health Care Approves Blue Shield Acquisition of Care 1^st

  • Undertakings

• 7/16/15 - Department of Managed Health Care Declares Premium Rate Increase by Aetna Unreasonable

• 5/6/15 - Department of Managed Health Care Declares Premium Rate Increase by Aetna Unreasonable

• 2/24/15 - DMHC Issues Follow-up Report on Kaiser’s Behavioral Health Services

2014

• 12/19/14 - Department of Managed Health Care Declares Premium Rate Increase by Aetna Unreasonable
• 10/23/14 - DMHC announces 2014 "Right Care Initiative" award recipients
  
  
• 5/6/14 - Department Appoints Conservator to Oversee Alameda Alliance for Health Due to Ongoing Financial Solvency Issues
  
  
• 1/7/14 - Department of Managed Health Care Orders Southwest Trauma Medical Associates to Stop Illegal Balance Billing

2013

• 12/5/13 - Department of Managed Health Care Director Shelley Rouillard issues statement on permanent injunction granted in People v. Martello

• 11/18/13 - DMHC Issues Cease and Desist Orders Against Health Net, Anthem Blue Cross, and Blue Shield for the Unlawful Denial of Medically Necessary Therapies

• 10/29/13 - DMHC announces 2013 "Right Care Initiative" award recipients

• 10/23/13 - Governor Brown Appoints Shelley Rouillard as Next Director of the Department of Managed Health Care

• 08/27/13 - DMHC Secures Agreement with United HealthCare to Provide Medically Necessary Speech Therapy
  • Agreement

• 07/15/13 - DMHC Finds Covered California Proposed Health Plan Rates Not Unreasonable

• 06/25/13 - DMHC Fines Kaiser $4 million for Deficiencies that Limit Access to Mental Health Services

• 04/24/13 - DMHC Secures Agreement with Anthem Blue Cross to Pay Health Care Providers
  • Agreement

• 04/16/13 - DMHC Appoints Consumer Advocate to Financial Solvency Standards Board

• 03/06/13 - Department of Managed Health Care Declares Health Plan Rate Increases by Blue Shield and Aetna Unreasonable

• 02/26/13 - California Department of Managed Health Care Renews Statewide Partnership to Help Californians Struggling with Health Care Coverage

• 02/14/13 - Provider Complaint Unit Address Change

2012

• 12/04/12 - DMHC announces the new online Independent Medical Review/Complaint Form
  • Independent Medical Review/Complaint Form
  • Independent Medical Review (IMR) VIDEO
  • Help Center - Consumer Assistance VIDEO

• 10/18/12 - Infographic: Department of Managed Health Care by the numbers

• 10/2/12 - DMHC announces "Right Care Initiative" award recipients

• 08/27/12 - California Receives $4.6 million to Enhance Health Care Consumer Assistance Program

• 08/16/12 - DMHC Releases Affordable Care Act Toolkits for Californians

• 07/16/12 - DMHC Orders Anthem Blue Cross to Stop Attempting to Collect Millions from California Health Care Providers They Claim were Overpaid
  • Press Release
  • Order

• 6/29/12 - Department of Managed Health Care Director Brent Barnhart issues statement on Supreme Court Ruling

• “With today’s ruling, we will continue our focus on fostering a more fair, transparent and affordable health care system,” said Department of Managed Health Care Director Brent Barnhart.

• “California has already implemented many early provisions of the Affordable Care Act, such as allowing children up to age 26 to remain on their parents’ plans and barring insurers from denying coverage to kids with pre-existing medical conditions. We are prepared to fully implement the remainder of the law’s provisions in 2014 that will ensure Californians can access high-quality health care when they need it."

• 05/29/12 - Department of Managed Health Care Director Brent Barnhart issues statement on preliminary injunction granted in People v. Martello
  • Order

• 05/25/12 - DMHC Secures Agreement with Kaiser Health Plan to Provide Medically Necessary Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy
  • Settlement Agreement

• 05/25/2012 - Department of Health Care Services Notifies Medi-Cal Community Dental Enrollees of Transfer to Liberty Dental

• 04/02/2012 - California Department of Managed Health Care Awards Grant to Consumers Union to Improve Accountability and Transparency in Health Plan Rate Setting

• 02/27/2012 - DMHC Issues Cease and Desist Order Against Kaiser Health Plan Due to Denials of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy
  • Press Release
  • Order

• 02/21/2012 - California Department of Managed Health Care Launches Statewide Partnership to Help Californians Struggling to Secure Health Care Coverage

• 01/30/2012 - Department of Managed Health Care Convenes Autism Advisory Task Force

• 01/12/2012 - DMHC Orders Anthem Blue Cross to Pay Health Care Providers for Services Dating Back to 2007
  • Press Release
  • Order
  • Routine Examination of the Claims Settlement Practice and Provider Dispute Resolution and Letter of Agreement

2011

• 10/12/2011 - 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

• Press Release
• Consumer Alert about Medicare scams

• 10/05/2011 - DMHC announces “Right Care Initiative” award recipients

• 10/04/2011 - DMHC announces senior staff appointment

• 08/25/2011 - Department of Managed Health Care issues statement on ruling in California Association of Health Plans vs. Lucinda Ehnes
  • Press Release

• 08/15/2011 - DMHC releases Request for Proposals for Consumer Assistance Program Partner Grants totaling $1.6 million
  • Background

• 08/11/2011 - Governor Brown Announces DMHC Appointments
  • Press Release

• 08/05/2011 - California’s Independent Medical Review Process for Denials of Care Meet Highest Federal Healthcare Reform Standards
  • Press Release

• 07/19/2011 - DMHC secures agreement with Anthem Blue Cross to expand coverage for autism treatments
  • Press Release
  • Settlement agreement

• 07/13/2011 - DMHC secures agreement with Blue Shield of California to expand coverage for autism treatments
  • Press Release
  • Settlement agreement

• 04/29/2011 - Kern Health Systems request for lower standards to provide timely care to patients denied
  • Press Release
  • Order

• 04/29/2011 - DMHC declares May 1 Anthem Blue Cross rate increase unreasonable
  • Press Release
  • Letter from Anthem Blue Cross

• 04/19/2011 - DMHC questions recent Blue Shield individual rate increase calculations averaging 37.5 percent
  • Press Release
  • Letter to Blue Shield of California

• 04/08/2011 - DMHC asks Anthem Blue Cross to explain why rate increases for approximately 120,000 enrollees in individual coverage policies are justified
  • Press Release
  • Letter to Anthem Blue Cross

• Health Net Security Breach Notices Are On Their Way to Affected Consumers

As of March 14, 2011, Health Net began sending notices to California consumers informing them that their personal information was likely included on one of nine missing server drives that have gone missing from its Rancho Cordova facility. Health Net has established a consumer hotline, where calls about the security breach are answered by the Debix Identity Protection Network, which will provide affected consumers with two years of free credit monitoring services and identity theft insurance. Consumers who have received such notices from Health Net should be assured that it is not a scam and need not be concerned about contacting Debix for information or to sign up for its services, which have been arranged for by Health Net. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.healthnet.com or call 1-855-434-8081. If you have additional concerns about the services Health Net is providing, please feel free to contact the DMHC’s Help Center at 1-888-466-2219.

• Press Release
• Director's Letter: April 7, 2011 - 6 - K: Information Security

• 03/14/2011 - Health Net Security Breach May Affect California Enrollees
  • Press Release

• 02/15/2011 - Critical New Window To Sign Up For Children's Health Insurance Highlighted
  • Press Release

• 01/04/2011 - Court rules in favor of DMHC consumer protections for patients with autism
  • Press statement
  • Ruling

2010

• 12/28/10 - New rules making California the first state in the nation to shorten the waiting time for an appointment take effect mid-January

• 11/29/10 - DMHC announces nearly $5 million in health plan fines for improper payment of provider claims

• 10/21/10 - DMHC announces Financial Solvency Standards Board Meeting on 11/03/2010

• 10/20/10 - DMHC announces Right Care Initiative awards

• 10/19/10 - California awarded $3.4 million to assist consumers to learn about and enroll in programs under federal health care reform


• Award Letter


• Consumer Assistance Grant Program Abstract


• Consumer Assistance Grant Program Project Narrative


• Consumer Assistance Grant Program Budget Narrative

• 09/08/10 - DMHC Releases Ten Year Report on Health Care Consumer Protections

• 08/16/10 - California awarded $1 million rate review grant


• Award letter

• 08/11/10 - Federal Trade Commission takes action against HealthcareOne LLC

• 07/14/10 - DMHC bars Folsom health insurance agent from selling Medicare Advantage plans


• Press Release


• Consumer Alert about Medicare scams


• Consumer Alert about Social Security scams

• 07/08/10 - DMHC appoints expert panel to study impact of health care reform on California health plans and providers


• Press Release


• Agenda

• 07/07/10 - Federal rate review grant application submitted by Schwarzenegger Administration

• 06/22/10 - DMHC announces appointment of Chief of Enforcement

• 05/24/10 - DMHC settles lawsuit against Prime Healthcare to remove last challenge to state ban on balance billing of patients
• Settlement Agreement
• Amended lawsuit


• WEBINAR: Help Center Complaint Process


• 03/17/10 - DMHC Issues Sanctions Against Predatory Health Insurance Agent


• 03/15/10 - DMHC Announces Help Center Appointment


• 03/10/10 - DMHC Actions to Curb Rescission Activities
  • Committee testimony
  • Fact Sheet


• 02/22/10 - DMHC Moves to Protect Consumers By Licensing Discount Health Card Companies
  • Consumer Alert - Discount Health Cards
  • Cease and Desist Order
  • Cease and Desist Order
  • Proposed Text


• 01/20/10 - The Doctor Will See You Now! - California shortens wait times for patient appointments

2009

• 11/17/09
  DMHC given ACE award for employment of persons with disabilities.
  Press Release


• 09/22/09
  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.
  Press Release


• 07/30/09
  DMHC Orders Discount Health Card Companies to Stop Selling in California.
  Press Release


• 07/06/09
  DMHC gains lifetime ban against insurance brokers from selling health coverage in California.
  Press Release


• 06/30/09
  DMHC issues statement regarding Consumer Watchdog legal action on health care coverage for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
  Press Release


• 06/12/09
  Updated regulations to cut patient appointment waiting time released.
  Press Release


• 06/09/09
  DMHC licenses first medical discount health plan in California.
  Press Release


• 03/30/09
  Local healthy lifestyles program for non-English speakers unveiled.
  
  • Press Release.
  • Programa local de estilos de vida saludables para habitantes con un conocimiento limitado del inglés.
• 03/13/09
  DMHC Announces Senior Staff Appointment.
  Press Release


• 02/18/09
  DMHC Announces Grant to Provide Better Health Care for Patients throughout Los Angeles County via Health Information Technology.
  Press Release


• 02/05/09
  State Office Closure.
  Press Release


• 01/27/09
  $5.7 Million in Grants Awarded for Innovative Projects to Improve Health Information Technology, Targeted at Underserved Areas.
  Press Release


• 01/16/09
  DMHC implements secured email system.
  Press Releases


• 01/12/09
  DMHC announces language assistance services for health plan members who speak little or no English.
  
  • Los Angeles Press Release – English
  • Press Release – Spanish
  • Press Release – Chinese
  • Press Release – Vietnamese
  • Press Release – Korean
  • San Francisco Press Release – English
  • Press Release – Spanish
  • Press Release – Chinese
  • Press Release – Vietnamese
  • Press Release – Korean
  • Fact Sheet – English
  • Fact Sheet – Spanish
  • Fact Sheet – Chinese
  • Regulation text – English
  • Questions & Answers


• 01/08/09
  DMHC Director Issues Statement on California Supreme Court Ruling Forbidding Balance Billing of Health Care Consumers.
  Press Release

2008

• 12/22/08
  DMHC ANNOUNCES LOGO CHANGES.
  Press Release


• 12/03/08
  DMHC ban on balance billing of consumers affirmed by court.
  
  • Press Release
  • Final Ruling
  • Tentative Ruling


• 12/01/08
  DMHC announces senior staff appointment.
  Press Release


• 11/18/08
  Health care help for California wildfire victims.
  Press Release


• 10/29/08
  DMHC announces first “Right Care Initiative” award recipients.
  Press Release


• 10/14/08
  Regulations take effect outlawing the practice of “balance billing” for emergency care.
  Press Release
  • Statement by Director Ehnes
  • Final text of regulation


• 08/12/08
  DMHC sends out first round of notifications offering coverage to rescinded consumers.
  Press Release


• 08/01/08
  DMHC Builds on Efforts to Protect Patients from Unfair and Unexpected Bills.
  Press Release


• 07/21/08
  DMHC requests help from Health Plans to aid fire victims.
  Press Release


• 07/18/08
  DMHC Director Ehnes issues statement regarding settlement with Anthem Blue Cross to offer coverage to 1770 formerly rescinded members.
  Press Release


• 07/17/08
  DMHC secures coverage for 450 rescinded members of Blue Shield of California; subject to a total of $5 million fine.
  Press Release


• 07/01/08
  DMHC Seeks Court Action to Prevent Prime Healthcare from Balance Billing any HMO Member.
  Press Release


• 06/19/08
  DMHC Announces Grant to Provide Better Health Care for California Farmworkers through Personal Health Cards.
  Press Release


• 06/18/08
  Department of Managed Health Continues Landmark Efforts to Extend Coverage to Consumers Stripped of Health Coverage.
  Press Release


• 05/07/08
  DMHC Director Cindy Ehnes named the 2008 Public Administrator of the Year.
  Press Release


• 03/19/08
  DMHC announces $500,000 grant to educate health care consumers about their right to treatment, prescription drugs.
  Press Release


• 03/05/08
  DMHC attorney Pat Sturdevant named the 2008 Attorney of the Year in the healthcare category by California Lawyer magazine.
  Press Release


• 02/26/08
  Public Education Campaign Targets High Price of Dental Coverage.
  Press Release


• 01/29/08
  DMHC and CDI Take Historic Joint Action Against PacifiCare to Halt Bad Claims Payments.
  Press Release


• 01/18/08
  More than $6 Million in Grants Awarded for Innovative Projects to Improve Health IT, Targeted at Underserved Areas.
  Press Release

2007

• 12/05/07
  Public Education Campaign Targets High Price of Dental Coverage.
  Press Release


• 11/27/07
  Department of Managed Health Care Announces Senior Staff Appointment.
  Press Release


• 11/15/07
  Department of Managed Health Care fines Health Net for not disclosing bonus program for employees considering cancellation of health policies.
  Press Release


• 10/26/07
  DMHC gains agreement from Blue Cross to stop use of unfair negotiating tactics with hospitals and health care providers.
  Press Release


• 10/23/07
  DMHC releases plan to end illegal health insurance rescissions.
  Press Release


• 08/20/07
  DMHC Announces Deputy Director Appointment.
  Press Release


• 07/26/07
  DMHC releases report on Kaiser quality assurance programs.
  Press Release


• 06/09/07
  DMHC to hold public meeting to examine Blue Cross of California merger agreements.
  Press Release


• 06/05/07
  DMHC negotiates agreement extending time for new Blue Cross of California doctor payments to go into effect.
  Press Release


• 05/17/07
  DMHC orders PacifiCare of California to let its members remain with the Sequoia Network.
  Press Release


• 04/23/07
  New life for California kidney transplant patients.
  Press Release


• 03/22/07
  DMHC fines Blue Cross of California for illegally rescinding health insurance policies.
  Press Release


• 03/9/07
  DMHC Announces Senior Staff Appointments.
  Press Release


• 03/01/07
  Language assistance now a reality for limited-English speaking California HMO members.
  
  • Press release (English)
  • Press release (Spanish)
  • Press release (Chinese)


• 02/01/07
  $1 Million Mark in Recovered Payments for Health Care Providers Reached by DMHC.
  Press Release

2006

• 10/12/06
  DMHC Licenses First Discount Health Card Plan in California
  Press Release.
• 09/21/06
  Blue Cross of California Fined by State for Wrongly Rescinding A Patient's Health Insurance Policy.
  Press Release.
• 08/10/06
  DMHC Requires Kaiser Foundation Health Plan to Pay $5 Million for Failures at San Francisco Kidney Transplant Center.
  Press Release.
• 07/26/06
  UC Merced and UC Riverside Receive a $10 Million Award to Fund Medical Education Feasibility Studies.
  Press Release
• 07/25/06
  Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Directive to Protect Patients from Disputed Out-of-Pocket Emergency Medical Costs.
  Press Release
• 02/16/06
  DMHC proposes regulations for health plans to provide interpreters in doctor's offices and clinics.
  Press Release

2005

• 12/30/05
  DMHC orders Blue Cross of California to cancel the January 1 reassignment of Beaver Medical Group members to new doctors.
  Press Release
• 12/19/05
  DMHC issues Order of Approval for the Notice of Material Modification to PacifiCare of CA's Knox-Keene License.
  Press Release
• 11/23/05
  DMHC releases independent auditor review of 2005 Blue Cross of California premium increases.
  Press Release
• 07/05/2005
  DMHC fines Blue Cross for Computer Error Overcharging Customers.
  Press Release
• 06/20/2005
  Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Fined by State for Exposing Patient Information on Web.
  Press Release
• 03/17/2005
  DMHC orders Bay Area blogger to remove Kaiser patient information from Web
  Press Release
• 03/07/2005
  DMHC approves restructuring of Sharp Health Plan's government programs
  Press Release
• 01/13/2005
  DMHC fines Blue Cross for Computer Error Overcharging Customers.
  Press Release
• 02/25/2005
  Discount Health Plans Crack Down by State Stops False and Misleading Advertising
  Press Release
• 02/17/2005
  Department of Managed Care Orders Blue Cross of California to continue sending patients to Pomona Valley Medical Center
  Press Release
• 01/13/2005
  Health Net HMO Fined by State for Failing to Correctly Reimburse Emergency Room and Hospital-based Doctors
  Press Release
• 01/05/2005
  Discount Health Plans Crack Down by State Stops False and Misleading Advertising
  Press Release
  Consumer Alert
  Alerta Al Consumidor
• 01/04/2005
  Department of Managed Care Announces New Prescription Drug Protections for HMO Consumers
  Press Release

2004

• 11/09/2004
  Statement Regarding Department of Insurance Approval of Anthem-WellPoint Merger
  Press Release
• 09/23/2004
  Department of Managed Health Care Cracks Down on Fraudulent Discount Health Companies
  Press Release
• 09/13/2004
  Department of Managed Health Care Announces New Chief of Enforcement
  Press Release
• 08/06/2004
  DMHC Approves Majority of Plan to Narrow Blue Shield HMO Network
  Press Release
• 07/23/2004
  DMHC Approves WellPoint-Anthem Material Modification
  Statement by Director Cindy Ehnes
  Fact Sheet