Law360(April 30, 2024, 7:36 PM EDT) — A member of the class that settled multidistrict litigation with Blue Cross Blue Shield for $2.67 billion over anti-competitive practices has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up his challenge to the $626 million attorney fees award in the settlement, arguing the Eleventh Circuit’s approval of the award runs counter to high court precedent.
U.S. District Judge Linda V. Parker of the Eastern District of Michigan entered an Order on motions to dismiss on March 30, 2024.
To Read the Order:
By Danielle Ferguson ·
Law360 (April 1, 2024, 6:23 PM EDT) — A Michigan federal judge has trimmed some of Ford Motor Co.’s time-barred claims alleging Blue Cross Blue Shield engaged in an anti-competitive scheme to drive up prices, but said the auto giant established it had standing to pursue allegations it was injured by market-restricting agreements among insurance licensees.
U.S. District Judge Linda V. Parker said Thursday that Ford’s alleged antitrust injuries from buying unreasonably expensive administrative services only, or ASO, products from BCBS as far back as 2013 are outside the statutory four-year window for seeking such claims.
Law360 (March 29, 2024, 8:17 PM EDT) — Home Depot has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up its challenge of a $2.67 billion settlement in antitrust litigation targeting Blue Cross Blue Shield, saying the deal immunizes activity that hurts competition.
Home Depot filed a petition with the high court on Tuesday, calling for it to review the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling that affirmed approval of a settlement in long-running multidistrict litigation accusing Blue Cross of using policies that prevent the association’s members from competing against each other.
Erin Lowrey
WDSU
Public hearings that were scheduled to take place in Baton Rouge Wednesday regarding the proposed reorganization and sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana have been canceled.
The Louisiana Insurance Commissioner’s Office said Blue Cross is now withdrawing its reorganization plan.
Blue Cross was going to be sold to Elevance Heath of Indiana.
There is no further information regarding Blue Cross’ intentions moving forward.
Clark County patients worry about changing doctors, having to wait for care
By Chrissy Booker, Columbian staff writer
As contract negotiations continue between Portland-based Legacy Health and Regence BlueCross BlueShield, patients at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center are worried what a potential contract termination would mean for their access to care.
“I felt my heart sink, honestly, when I heard the news,” said Battle Ground’s Karmen Presley, a Legacy patient who’s pregnant with her second child. “Just the thought of having to find a new doctor, which is really important around a sensitive thing like a pregnancy. You want to have confidence in your provider. The thought of searching for a new one was kind of daunting for me.”
By: John Burnett
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
A Kailua-Kona judge on Friday ruled that contract terms and conditions the state’s largest health insurer imposes on doctors and patients are “unconscionable” and “unenforceable.”
Third Circuit Chief Judge Robert S. Kim made the ruling in his written order denying Hawaii Medical Services Association’s motion to compel arbitration for claims made by Hilo obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Frederick Nitta’s and the late Adrian “Scott” Norton.
The Honorable R. David Proctor of the Northern District of Alabama entered two Memorandum and Orders on January 31, 24.
By: Mike Scarcella
Dec 22 (Reuters) – A U.S. judge has rejected Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s bid to bar monetary damages claims from a long-running antitrust case allowing Alabama healthcare providers to seek billions of dollars from the insurance giant and its members for allegedly scheming to underpay them for years.
The ruling on Thursday by U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor in Birmingham allows the claims from health professionals, hospitals and other providers to move forward.
A separate class in the case made up of insurance subscribers, including companies and individuals, settled related claims for $2.7 billion in 2020.
By: Jacklyn Willie
A long running dispute over Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s handling of an American Indian tribe health plan will continue after a US judge declined to find the insurer deliberately failed to meet its discovery obligations and grant judgment for the tribe.
