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Andrew LaMar

Sacramento - The California Medical Association announced today that it has endorsed Assemblyman Hector De La Torre, D-South Gate, in the race for state insurance commissioner.

In his five years in the state Assembly, De La Torre has been a strong supporter of expanding access to health care, ensuring patients get the coverage they deserve and holding insurers accountable. De La Torre has an excellent track record of protecting consumers and patients and will serve them well as insurance commissioner.

“Hector De La Torre has fought hard for patients and courageously taken on insurance companies to demand transparency and accountability,” said Brennan Cassidy, M.D., CMA president. “California’s physicians are proud to endorse Hector De La Torre for insurance commissioner because we know he will do an outstanding job.”

De La Torre has joined with CMA on several key pieces of legislation. In 2007, De La Torre authored AB 1342, which prohibits insurers from refusing to pay for a medical treatment after it has been authorized and provided. The legislation was signed into law and took effect in 2008.

In 2008 and 2009, De La Torre authored measures sponsored by CMA to tackle the growing problem of insurance companies canceling coverage for patients after they get very sick and medical bills begin to mount. A congressional investigation last year found that three insurers used rescissions to cancel more than 20,000 policies over five years, saving the companies $300 million in claims.

AB 1945 and AB 2 both sought to set up an independent board to review decisions made by health insurers and health plans to cancel coverage for patients after they get sick. The legislation also would have forced insurers to continue providing coverage until receiving a ruling from the board. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed both bills.

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The California Medical Association represents more than 35,000 physicians in all modes of practice and specialties. CMA is dedicated to the health of all patients in California.