California subpoenas big health insurers’ financial records
By Duke Helfand
The Los Angeles Times
The California state attorney general’s office said Thursday that it had subpoenaed financial records of California’s seven largest health insurance companies as part of an investigation into whether they illegally raised customer premiums and denied payment of legitimate claims.
Prosecutors said they sought documents from Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna Health, Cigna, Blue Shield of California, Kaiser Permanente, Health Net and PacifiCare.
The subpoenas cover health plans that reimburse doctors and hospitals for their services.
The attorney general’s efforts come as Anthem and other health insurers nationwide face stepped-up scrutiny over rate hikes by regulators, members of Congress and the Obama administration. President Obama is seeking greater federal authority over insurance-premium increases as part of his national healthcare overhaul. (more)