In Brief: Sen. Gaines Sues Covered California; Consumer Watchdog Wants Surgeon Investigated
Sen. Gaines Sues Covered California
State Sen. Ted Gaines, a Roseville Republican who is also running for the post of California Insurance Commissioner, has filed a lawsuit against Covered California, claiming the health insurance exchange has compelled cancellation of 900,000 policies not compliant with Affordable Care Act guidelines.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeks an injunction against Covered California from compelling such policy cancellations. The suit comes as the Obama administration appears willing to extend such policies for two more years before they should be canceled.
“Implementation of the ACA has been a mess. It failed to protect 900,000 Californians. Millions of Californians were happy with their health plans and wanted to keep them. Millions more will have their policies cancelled as well,” Gaines said at a press conference on Wednesday. He also blasted current Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, a Democrat who has been supportive of the ACA.
Covered California officials declined to comment. Enrollment through the exchange was 728,410 through January, above projections for the entire open enrollment period, which ends on March 31.
Consumer Watchdog Urges Surgeon Investigation
A Santa Monica-based consumer advocacy group has urged California Attorney General Kamala Harris and the California Medical Board to investigate the conduct of a Central Valley heart surgeon who left patients while their procedures were still in progress.
Consumer Watchdog asked Harris to investigate Pervaiz Chaudhry, M.D. The physician had left a 2012 surgery at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital early to attend a luncheon and had a physician assistant close for him.
The patient, Silvino Perez, suffered cardiac arrest, brain damage and is in a persistent vegetative state. Chaudhry was briefly suspended by the hospital but continues to practice and perform surgeries. According to the Fresno Bee, Chaudhry is among California's most active cardiac surgeons.
The Bee also reported that a wrongful termination suit filed against Fresno Heart Hospital by its former administrator alleges that Chaudry had left other procedures early as well and that Fresno Heart allowed it and covered it up because the surgeon brought a substantial amount of revenue to the facility.
“The allegations paint a troubling portrait of a dangerous doctor and a hospital colluding to cover up his conduct,” the letter to said. “These allegations, which seem corroborated and appear credible, should lead to an interim suspension order suspending Dr. Chaudhry’s license.”
Consumer Watchdog also asked for an investigation of Community Medical Centers, which owns Fresno Heart & Surgical.
“The California public cannot feel safe about their medical care if heart surgeons are free to go to lunch before finishing open heart surgeries, then face no significant consequences when caught,” said Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court. “The public deserves answers.”
