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Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
The healthcare industry is subject to numerous laws and regulations of federal, state, and local governments, as well as various contractual provisions, governing our operations. Compliance with these laws, regulations, and contractual provisions can be subject to government audit, review, and interpretation, as well as regulatory actions. Penalties associated with violations of these laws, regulations, and contractual provisions can include significant fines and penalties, temporary or permanent exclusion from participating in publicly funded programs, a limitation on our ability to market or sell products, the repayment of previously billed and collected revenues, and reputational damage.
We are involved in legal actions in the ordinary course of business including, but not limited to, various employment claims, vendor disputes and provider claims. Some of these legal actions seek monetary damages, including claims for punitive damages, which may not be covered by insurance. We review legal matters and update our estimates, or range of estimates, of reasonably possible losses and related disclosures, as necessary. We have accrued liabilities for legal matters for which we deem the loss to be both probable and reasonably estimable. These liability estimates could change as a result of further developments. The outcome of these legal actions are inherently uncertain. An adverse determination in one or more of these pending matters could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Kentucky RFP. On September 4, 2020, Anthem Kentucky Managed Care Plan, Inc. (“Anthem”) brought an action in Franklin County Circuit Court against the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and all of the five winning bidder health plans, including our Kentucky health plan. On September 9, 2022, the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled that, with regard to the earlier Circuit Court ruling granting Anthem relief, the Circuit Court should not have invalidated the 2020 procurement and thus should not have awarded a contract to Anthem. Anthem sought discretionary review by the Kentucky Supreme Court (“KSC”) of the ruling by the Court of Appeals. On April 19, 2023, KSC granted Anthem’s request for discretionary review and ordered legal briefing, which the parties completed in September 2023. The KSC held oral argument on March 7, 2024. On March 14, 2024, the KSC entered its Order, which affirmed the Kentucky Court of Appeals and thus allows our Kentucky health plan to retain its Medicaid contract. On March 25, 2024, the Franklin Circuit Court held a hearing on Anthem’s motion for a status conference to discuss other alleged 2020 procurement scoring error arguments, which Anthem asserts were not among the issues already decided by the appellate courts. The winning bidder health plans and the two Kentucky Cabinet parties all opposed Anthem’s motion on the grounds that the KSC’s Order resolved the entire action. The Franklin Circuit Court stated its intention to quickly rule on whether Anthem may pursue further scoring error arguments in the trial court. On April 3, 2024, Anthem filed a motion for
reconsideration of the KSC Order. All defendants filed their responses by April 10, 2024. Pending further KSC or Franklin Circuit Court Orders, our Kentucky health plan will continue to operate for the foreseeable future under its current Medicaid contract. At this time, the Company cannot predict the final outcome or timing of conclusion of the litigation. No party is demanding damages from the Company, although Anthem may continue its effort to challenge the validity of the 2020 procurement selection process through a successive appeal.
Puerto Rico. On August 13, 2021, Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico, Inc. (“MHPR”) filed a complaint with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Court of First Instance, San Juan (State Court) asserting, among other claims, breach of contract against Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration (“ASES”). On September 13, 2021, ASES filed a counterclaim and a third-party complaint against MHPR and the Company. The parties are engaged in settlement conversations. A status hearing was held on September 28, 2023, in which ASES and Molina informed the Court of the ongoing settlement conversations. On January 15, 2024, ASES and Molina informed the court that they had reached an agreement in principle, and the Court scheduled a status conference on March 5, 2024. At the March 5, 2024 status conference, ASES and Molina provided an update of the negotiations. The Court scheduled a status conference for May 20, 2024. The Company cannot predict the outcome, or provide a reasonable estimate or range of estimates of the possible outcome or loss, if any, in this matter.
Texas Qui Tam Litigation. On May 7, 2013, a relator filed under seal a qui tam action in Texas state court against Molina Healthcare, Inc. and Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc., asserting claims under the Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act (“TMFPA”) on behalf of the State of Texas. The original petition alleged that Molina Healthcare of Texas knowingly failed to assess its STAR+PLUS members in accordance with the terms of its Medicaid contract with the State and made false statements to the State concerning those assessments that permitted Molina Healthcare of Texas to receive from the State unnecessary payments. As required by the TMFPA, the original petition was filed in camera and under seal, and without Molina’s awareness, to permit the State to decide whether to intervene and assume responsibility for prosecuting the lawsuit. In 2019, the State declined to intervene. In June 2019, as a result of the State’s election to decline intervention, the trial court unsealed the original petition, at which time Molina became aware of the lawsuit. The relator amended her original petition and served Molina in July 2019.
In September 2019, Molina filed a motion to dismiss the relator’s claims under the Texas Citizens Participation Act. After the trial court denied the motion, and following extended appellate proceedings which automatically stayed all trial court proceedings, discovery in the lawsuit commenced in late 2021. The relator’s third amended petition was filed on January 19, 2024. The petition alleges that, during the periods in question some ten years ago, Molina failed to assess STAR+PLUS members for personal attendant services, failed to provide those members with contractually required health care benefits, and misrepresented to the State Molina’s capacity to perform the assessments and the status of the assessments. Based on these allegations, the relator contends that Molina is liable to the State under the TMFPA for statutorily defined civil remedies, disgorgement of previous capitation payments, and interest. Molina denies the relator’s allegations as well as any liability in the lawsuit, and intends to defend against the relator’s allegations vigorously. The lawsuit is currently in the discovery phase, with trial set before the Texas District Court, Travis County in late September 2024. The case remains subject to significant additional proceedings, and due to numerous factors of uncertainty presented in the case, we are currently unable to make a reasonable estimate, or range of estimates, with regard to the ultimate outcome of this matter.