How has life in the Bay Area changed over the last 20 years? These stories straight from our Bay City News archives capture news of the day from 5, 10, and 20 years ago – as originally published at the time. Explore these history snapshots and ponder how today’s news compares to that of years past.
JULY 30, 2021
Public health spending depends on accurate medical records and strong oversight of reimbursement systems. Federal officials joined whistleblower cases alleging that Kaiser Permanente added unsupported diagnoses to obtain higher Medicare payments, allegations the health system denied.
Bay City News Reported:
“Justice Department Joins Kaiser Medicare Fraud Suits”
The U.S. Justice Department has joined a series of whistleblower lawsuits alleging that Kaiser Permanente engaged in a years-long scheme to defraud the federal government out of Medicare payments.
The suits allege that since 2009 the company systematically pressured doctors to amend medical records by adding “diagnoses that patients did not actually have” in order to receive higher Medicare reimbursements, according to federal prosecutors.
The original suit, filed under the False Claims Act in 2013 by a Kaiser data specialist in San Rafael, claims the company also used data mining to “retroactively change patient medical records.”
“Today’s action sends a clear message that we will hold health care providers and plans accountable if they seek to game the system by submitting false information,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Sarah Harrington.
The suits seek an unspecified amount of money in damages plus attorney fees and court costs.
Kaiser has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
“We are confident that Kaiser Permanente is compliant with Medicare Advantage program requirements and we intend to strongly defend against the lawsuits alleging otherwise,” according to a statement posted on the company’s website Thursday.
“Our policies and practices represent well-reasoned and good-faith interpretations of sometimes vague and incomplete guidance from (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services),” the statement reads.
A case management conference is scheduled for Oct. 22 via Zoom.
JULY 30, 2016
Transit reliability depends on aging trackside equipment operating safely under daily service demands. A fire closed Walnut Creek station, removed a smoky train from service and forced inspections before trains could resume on one track.
Bay City News reported:
“Walnut Creek BART Reopens After Track Equipment Fire”
The Walnut Creek Bart Station reopened this afternoon after equipment on a track caught fire, a Bart spokeswoman said.
As of 4:25 p.m., Bart crews were given the okay to operate trains on one track in the station.
The fire was reported to Bart officials at about 3 p.m. and caused the officials to close the station, spokeswoman Alicia Trost said.
Firefighters from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded and extinguished the fire. A Bart crew inspected the track before the station reopened, Trost said.
A bus bridge between the Lafayette and Pleasant Hill stations will not be set up now that trains are moving again.
Smoke and a strong odor were reported on one train that was taken out of service. The fire was on the station’s Oakland-bound side.
JULY 30, 2006
Contaminated land can block housing, parks and commercial development until public agencies resolve cleanup costs and liability. Projects in five Bay Area counties advanced for state funding to restore petroleum-polluted sites to productive use.
Bay City News reported:
“Bay Area Brownfield Projects Compete For Cleanup Funds”
Several Bay Area counties have been shortlisted to receive a piece of a $20 million fund for revitalizing underused sites contaminated by underground petroleum leaks, the state Water Resources Control Board reported.
Projects in Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda and Sonoma Counties are now on a priority list for a chunk of change to clean up underground fuel-contaminated “brownfield” sites, the water board reports.
California Environmental Protection Agency officials report that “brownfields” are properties with real or perceived contamination that may be vacant or underused due to environmental cleanup costs and liability concerns.
The funding comes from the Orphan Site Cleanup Account, established by Assembly Bill 1906, which provides funding for land revitalization projects.
San Joaquin, San Diego, Fresno, Riverside, Kern, Orange and Los Angeles counties have also submitted project proposals.
The proposed land redevelopments range from single-family homes and low income housing to retail centers and parks.
Editor’s Note: All the reporting, writing, and editing of this content was done by human journalists at the time of initial publication. AI tools were used to surface these stories from our internal Bay City News archives and provide the introductory context.