A report commissioned by CalOptima Health into disgraced former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do’s activity on the CalOptima board will be released soon, the agency’s directors voted Thursday, Oct. 16.
The CalOptima Board of Directors decided in a closed session to waive attorney-client privilege and authorize the release of an investigation prepared by Los Angeles-based law firm Bird Marella.
The board directed that affected individuals in the probe be notified by Oct. 22. They would have a week to take legal action to prevent the report’s release, which is set for Oct. 30 at the earliest.
Board Director Blair Contratto cast the lone vote against waiving attorney-client privilege. Director Brian Helleland was absent.
Contratto thanked the lawyers for preparing the final report, adding, “I’m hopeful at the November meeting we’ll be able to address additional reports we have reviewed.”
CalOptima’s next board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 6. The report is not currently on the agenda, said spokesperson Deanne Thompson.
CalOptima is the county’s health insurance program for the poor.
Do is serving a five-year sentence in federal prison after pleading guilty in 2024 to accepting $800,000 in bribes to steer more than $10 million in county-administered COVID relief funds to two nonprofits.
Most of the money given to Viet America Society and Hand to Hand Relief Organization was supposed to be spent on food programs for the poor, but authorities have said only $1.4 million actually went to the meals. Federal prosecutors allege the rest was used by charity leaders for their own personal purchases, including real estate and lavish dinners.
Do served as a board member for CalOptima Health, the county’s Medi-Cal administrator, but resigned from his role as its chairman in 2023.
As a CalOptima director, Do had been criticized for supporting huge salary hikes for some CalOptima executives and for hiring one of his aides, Veronica Carpenter, to a newly created, $282,000-a-year job as CalOptima chief of staff. That move raised questions, in part, because Carpenter had less than a year of experience in hospital administration.
Under Do’s board chairmanship, CalOptima CEO Michael Hunn’s pay was increased by about 50% in 2022 to $841,500 a year. The board said at the time it brought his salary to be more in line with his industry peers.
Do is the first OC supervisor to be criminally convicted in nearly half a century and was one of the leading Vietnamese American politicians in the county.