They are up in arms about this leaked memo:

Richard Thomason, the policy director for SEIU United Healthcare Workers West, which is based in Oakland, said a leaked memo indicates that the physicians group, which is based in Walnut Creek, may be in violation of state and federal laws and regulations and of its own stated policies.

Thomason said the memo, which is dated March 6, 2006, says “primary care physicians should not refer patients for a screening colonoscopy if their life expectancy is less than five years” and threatens financial penalties if the order to physicians is disobeyed.

However, the health plan is right – studies have shown that people with less than five years to live do not benefit from colon cancer screening.