An allegation that one member of Alliance's governing body "objected to" religious services at Horisons' clinics fails show or give rise to a reasonable inference that Alliance burdened Horisons' practice of religion by preventing Horisons from engaging in conduct mandated by Horisons' faith.
Thursday, July 03, 2014
Religious Health Care Provider Loses Free Exercise Claim Against Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan
In Horisons Unlimited v. Santa Cruz-Monterey-Merced Managed Medical Care Commission, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89030 (ED CA, June 27, 2014), a religious health care provider sued over actions of Alliance, the sole Medi-Cal manged care plan in the county. Alliance refused to credential the clinics' providers and allow new enrollments of Medi-Cal beneficiaries at the clinics. In addition to various antitrust claims, the clinic asserted infringement of its free exercise of religion. The court rejected the contention, saying:
