Blue Shield of California filed a lawsuit alleging that California violated public records laws by not releasing documents related to the state's Medicaid contract awards, the insurer said Oct. 7.
Blue Shield of California lost Medi-Cal contracts in all 13 counties in which it bid. Since the state's Aug. 25 decision, Blue Shield has filed an appeal with California's Health Care Services department, accusing rivals Anthem Blue Cross, Molina and Health Net of failing to disclose penalties against them.
In a news release, Blue Shield of California said it requested documents related to the scoring process, methodology and communications about the bid.
Blue Shield alleges the California Department of Health Care Services did not provide the requested documents or allow for additional time for an appeal.
"We have waited in good faith and the Department of Health Care Services is refusing to provide the public information we are requesting or to provide a reasonable amount of time for the appeal process," Kristen Cerf, president and CEO of Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, said in the release.
The Department of Health Care Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Blue Shield of California also launched a digital advertising campaign Oct. 3. to sway public opinion, urging Californians to contact Gov. Gavin Newsom's office to protest the Medi-Cal contracts decision.