HEALTH

Medi-Cal HMO Award Upheld: The California Department of Health Services said it had denied appeals from several health insurance plans of a contract awarded in October to Foundation Health Plan to provide medical services to Medi-Cal recipients in Los Angeles County. The appeal was filed by California All Health, Care First and Tower Health Services. The state gave no specific information on why the appeal was denied. The contract is potentially worth $5.9 billion, the state said. Foundation, a Sacramento-area managed-care firm, plans to divide the award with two subcontractors, Molina Medical Centers and Universal Care. The state agency recently barred Universal from enrolling Medi-Cal patients for alleged marketing violations. State officials said their investigation into Universal continues and that no decision has been made whether to lift the enrollment ban.