Blaming increased catastrophic hospitalizations among its California...

Blaming increased catastrophic hospitalizations among its California members, PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. said Thursday that despite improved revenue, net earnings fell sharply for its fiscal second quarter and six months ended March 31.

The Cypress health maintainence organization operator said second-quarter net earnings fell 96% to $51,000 from $1.4 million during the like quarter a year ago. Revenue for the quarter was $38.4 million, up 71% compared with $22.4 million a year earlier.

For the first half of the year, PacifiCare reported net earnings of $1.3 million, down 50% from $2.6 million a year earlier. Revenue for the six-month period increased 59% to $67.7 million from $42.4 million in 1985.