The California Supreme Court decided to let stand a state appeals court ruling that paved the way for $91 million in fines against a UnitedHealthcare subsidiary, according to CNN.
Three things to know:
1. The fines were leveled against UnitedHealth subsidiary PacifiCare for unlawful claims-handling practices, the California Department of Insurance said in September 2018. The department accused PacifiCare of wrongfully denying life-saving treatment for seriously ill members, as well as claim payment denials for providers and hospitals.
2. The agency said it found over 908,000 violations of consumer protection laws. The department previously alleged the health insurer knew about the issues, but was focused on maximizing "profits through what it called 'efficiencies' measures after the 2005 botched $7 billion acquisition of PacifiCare by UnitedHealthcare."
3. UnitedHealth spokesperson Tyler Mason told CNN, "We will continue our legal challenge." Another $82 million in fines is still under appeal, according to the report.