By: Chad Terhune

LA TIMES

03/20/2015

Nonprofit insurer Blue Shield of California, already under scrutiny for its huge cash reserves and lack of disclosure, is refusing to say how much it’s spending to acquire a Monterey Park insurance company and is seeking confidentiality from state regulators..

The California Department of Managed Health Care said Friday it was still weighing Blue Shield’s request for confidentiality after receiving a public-records request from The Times and being asked to hold a public hearing on the deal by a former company official.

The documents in question pertain to Blue Shield’s proposed acquisition of Care1st, a health plan with more than 500,000 members.

The companies didn’t disclose the terms when the transaction was announced in December. They asked regulators to keep certain details out of public view in filings submitted to the state for review Jan. 30.

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By: Chad Terhune

LA TIMES

March 18, 2015

Authorities have revoked the tax-exempt status of nonprofit Blue Shield of California, potentially putting it on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in state taxes each year.

Judge David Proctor of the Northern District of Alabama presided over a scheduled Status Conference Hearing in MDL 2406 on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 10:00 AM in Birmingham, Alabama.

The putative class action addresses antitrust and unfair business practice claims made by both healthcare Providers and health plan Subscribers against Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans and associated entities across the country.

Today’s hearing focused on jurisdictional issues as well as specific preliminary issues associated with individual Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans.

The Provider plaintiffs are represented by co-lead counsel Edith Kallas and Joe Whatley and Subscriber plaintiffs are represented by co-lead counsel David Boies and Michael Hausfield. Co-lead Counsel Joe Whatley stated ” We feel good with the way the arguments went on in persona jurisdiction and we look forward to the Court’s ruling.”

For additional information follow  www.BluesAntitrustlitigation.com.