The cost of managed healthcare in California has passed the national average for the first time, according to a report released by the California HealthCare Foundation. Health insurance premiums in California increased 8.7 percent in 2006, a sharp rise compared to the state’s inflation rate of 4.2 percent and well over the national increase of 7.7 percent, according to the Oakland-based foundation. The average California HMO enrollee paid $342 in premiums each month versus $337 paid by the average American, the report found. Additionally, more than 60 percent of HMO members paid at least $15 for a doctors visit this year, a 15 percent increase since 2003. Premiums have experienced increases nationally as members look for more options in doctors and medical facilities. Historically, HMO premiums in California were significantly below the national average, although the report does not detail what has caused the sudden shift.

The Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce holds its seventh annual state of the community breakfast. 7:30 a.m. Odyssey Restaurant 15600 Odyssey Dr., Granada Hills (818) 341-2428 chatsworthchamber.com

Calabasas-based online banking software provider Digital Insight Corp. has agreed to be acquired by Intuit Inc., makers of TurboTax, for $1.35 billion. The deal, subject to approval by regulators and shareholders, is expected to close in the first quarter of next year. Once complete, Digital Insight Corp. will operate as an Intuit unit with Digital Insight’s Chairman, President and CEO Jeff Stiefler heading up the division. The company’s offices will remain in Calabasas. Mountain View-based Intuit plans to finance the transaction, at $39 per share of Digital Insight stock, with cash and debt. Shares in Digital Insight rose by nearly 16 percent in late trading on Thursday to about $38.20.

Sales tax generated in Santa Clarita increased 3.3 percent during the second quarter from the same period in 2005, according the city statistics released Wednesday. The city reported a 4.2 percent increase in transportation, 2 percent jump in general retail sales and 38.5 percent boost among gas stations. Retail also increased 7.7 percent. Construction sales, however, showed a 5 percent decline.

Nestle SA is mulling the purchase of Gerber Products Co., according to a published report in the Wall Street Journal. Vevey, Switzerland-based Nestle, which has U.S. headquarters in Glendale, is in talks to acquire a medical-nutrition business owned by Gerber parent, Novartis, and is interested in including Gerber in the deal, according to the WSJ report. Officials at both comments declined comment to the Wall Street Journal, which cited sources familiar with the matter.

CarMax Inc. increased its presence in the Los Angeles market with the opening of its Burbank superstore Wednesday, the company’s sixth location in the region. The store at 1000 Flower St. is 20,000 square feet, employs more than 100 associates and stocks 300 to 400 vehicles. The grand opening also featured a charity road rally featuring local television personalities competing in a driving challenge, which included parallel parking and pack-the-trunk events. CarMax donated $1,000 to each participant’s charity, and the winner’s charity received an additional $1,000.

The Encino Chamber of Commerce holds its board retreat. 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Holiday Inn Woodland Hills-Warner Center 21101 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills (818) 789-4711 encinochamber.org

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that Precision Dynamics co-founder Walt Mosher had not proven allegations of an improper election of two members to the company’s board of directors. Following a seven-day trial, Judge Teresa Sanchez-Gordon dismissed claims challenging the election this summer of Jonathan Lasch and Robert F. Foster to the Precision Dynamics board. The decision also tossed out a claim by Mosher against Precision Dynamics Chief Financial Officer Mark Segal alleging he did carry out his duties supervising the election of board members. Additionally, Sanchez-Gordon rejected arguments that an August shareholders meeting did not follow state code requirements. Mosher, 72, filed the lawsuit in September against Segal, company President and CEO Gary E. Hutchinson and board members Robert B. Kraemer, Lasch and Foster. The case alleged a power grab for control of the privately held San Fernando company, which designs and manufacturers identification band systems. Kraemer and Hutchinson are majority shareholders in the company. The ruling leaves a number of other claims before the court: that Kraemer and Hutchinson breached their fiduciary duty by taking steps to keep Mosher from electing a board member of his choosing at the August shareholders meeting; an ouster of Lasch and Foster from the board; and a finding that Lasch and Foster breached an oral agreement with Mosher that they would step down from the board at Mosher’s request. Those issues will be determined at future hearings. An official from Mosher’s office said he was out of the country and could not be reached for comment.

Macerich, owners of the Panorama Mall and The Oaks, has named Tony Grossi executive vice president and chief operating officer. Grossi assumes his post on January 8. He was most recently executive vice president, operations for Cadillac Fairview, a Toronto-based commercial real estate company. Grossi replaces David Contis, who left Macerich in October.

The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education has approved a plan to construct a high school on the site of the Granada Hills Community Hospital. Plans call for a 1,215-seat high school costing about $89 million for the site at Balboa Boulevard and San Jose Street. The project could open as soon as 2011. The district, which bought the property in bankruptcy court in 2004, said the new school would help alleviate overcrowding at several areas schools. The plan has been criticized from some in the community who argued a hospital would better serve the area than an educational facility. The 155-bed hospital closed in 2002.