Irvine Health Foundation

Mystery Check Leads to More Secrecy Issues at CalOptima

The health plan took delivery of a $90,391 cashier’s check, but the sender refused to reveal who donated the money.

Michael D. Stephens said the demand by the county health care plan is part of a series of “surreal events.”

Board asserts the claim results from “unauthorized use of resources” by former chairmen, but it offers no details.

In his resignation letter, Ed Kacic asserts that “various forces over the past year have caused severe disruption to the organization.”

The nonprofit wants the County Board of Supervisors and CalOptima directors to halt what its attorney labels “scurrilous” allegations.

Orange County officials add to the controversy by sending the accusations to the state’s political watchdog without explaining their context.

Letter accuses the board chairman and another board member of
improprieties. Both strongly deny the accusations.

The closed-session discussion of a critical assessment of the
agency was allowed under attorney-client privilege, he insists.