Wellpoint Health Networks Inc

A month after WellPoint Inc. ousted David C. Colby, the nation's largest health insurer is being dogged by salacious allegations about his personal life -- and charges that it was negligent. The company, which owns Blue Cross of California, was named as a defendant Thursday in a lawsuit that accuses Colby of sexual battery, breach of contract and infliction of emotional distress. Sarah Waugh, who worked for WellPoint when it was called WellPoint Health Networks Inc.

Blue Cross of California's latest antidote to rising healthcare costs isn't going down very well with physicians. The state's largest for-profit health plan is set to roll back its payments for about half the services and procedures provided by physicians next month. And many of the 53,408 physicians in Blue Cross' preferred provider organization (PPO) networks say that's a prescription for disaster. Doctors say the health plan imposed the new rates unilaterally.

Health insurer WellPoint Inc. is reorganizing its business around commercial and consumer units to tighten its customer focus, the company said. The commercial business unit will handle large-group customers such as national accounts. It also will cover specialty insurance such as dental, vision, life and disability, a spokeswoman said. No job or product cuts are planned with the reorganization, she said.

WellPoint Inc., the nation's largest health insurer, said Wednesday that profit rose sharply in the fourth quarter and boosted its 2006 profit outlook, although by less than analysts had expected. Its net income more than tripled to $652 million, or $1.04 a share, from $184.5 million, or 46 cents, in the year-earlier quarter, when the Indianapolis-based company took 39 cents a share in charges related to its merger and repurchased debt. The company was formed in November 2004 when Anthem Inc.

Pity poor Blue Cross of California. Judging from a letter the big health insurer recently sent Mark Galanter, a Los Angeles classical pianist and teacher who belongs to one of its health plans for individuals, the company's ability to provide him with coverage sits on a knife's edge.

State regulators stepped in Friday to delay a showdown that threatens access for more than 175,000 Blue Cross members to three hospitals in Los Angeles County. The state Department of Managed Health Care intervened in a long-running fee dispute that pits struggling hospital operator Centinela Freeman HealthSystem against the nation's largest insurer, WellPoint Inc.

WellPoint Inc., the nation's largest health insurer with more than 7 million members in California, saw first-quarter profit rise 20% on the heels of acquisitions and growing membership, the company said Wednesday. The report, however, gave more fodder to consumer and doctor groups who say the industry's rising profitability is due to a consolidation trend that is pushing up premiums and lowering compensation for physicians.

WellPoint Inc., the nation's largest health insurer that covers about 1 in 10 people in the U.S., fared the worst among its peers in a survey gauging how quickly HMOs process and pay claims to doctors. The analysis, released Thursday, examined 5 million line items in claims submitted by 7,000 doctors to health insurance companies using a computer-based payment system sold by Athenahealth Inc., which compiled the study. Indianapolis-based WellPoint, which covers 34 million patients in the U.S.

WellPoint Inc., the nation's largest health insurer, reported Wednesday that its second-quarter profit grew 34%, thanks largely to increased revenue from premiums and administrative fees. Executives said the company also continued to benefit from its December acquisition of rival WellChoice Inc. WellPoint's net income for the period grew to $751.2 million, or $1.17 a share, compared with $559.4 million, or 90 cents, during the same period last year.

WellPoint Inc., the largest U.S. provider of health benefits by medical membership, said it would expand its offerings of low-premium, high-deductible insurance to most people enrolled in its plans. WellPoint, the parent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in 14 states, will make the change beginning Jan. 1, the Indianapolis-based company said.