In California, the health insurance giant Blue Cross is coming under criticism for trying to enlist physicians in denying patients medical care. The Los Angeles Times reports Blue Cross has sent doctors copies of health insurance applications filled out by new patients. The doctors are then asked to immediately notify Blue Cross if the applications omit any preexisting conditions that could be used to deny them coverage. Blue Cross is California’s largest for-profit health insurer. Observers say the letters could provide conflicts for doctors who rely on Blue Cross for most of their income. Anthony Wright of Health Access California said, “They are playing a game of ‘gotcha’ where they are trying to use their doctors against their patients’ health interests. That’s about as ugly as it gets.”