Author Archives: Admin

Law360 (December 7, 2023, 5:12 PM EST) — The Arizona arm of Blue Cross Blue Shield is coming out swinging against what it calls a “kitchen-sink complaint” brought by groups representing hundreds of doctors claiming the insurer has unfairly been paying them as in-network providers, saying that the attempt to “coerce greater reimbursement is legally insufficient in fatal ways.”

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona Inc. is paying the individual doctors it had contracts with according to their contracts, and it’s using the independent arbitration process established by the No Surprises Act for out-of-network providers and insurers to settle disputes with the rest, it told an Arizona federal court Tuesday.

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Rylee Wilson –  

A Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana policyholder filed a proposed class action lawsuit seeking to block the insurer’s sale to Elevance Health, nola.com reported Dec. 5. 

The lawsuit, filed Dec. 4, does not name BCBS Louisiana or Elevance, but the Accelerate Louisiana Initiative, the foundation BCBS Louisiana plans to fund with the proceeds from the Elevance sale. 

BCBS Louisiana proposed that around 90% of the proceeds of the sale go to the foundation to advance health equity in the state, with around 10% paid out to BCBS Louisiana policyholders. The acquisition must be approved by two-thirds of BCBS Louisiana’s policy holders.  

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Law360 (October 25, 2023, 11:35 PM EDT) — The Eleventh Circuit on Wednesday affirmed Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers’ $2.67 billion settlement resolving multidistrict litigation alleging anti-competitive practices, finding in a published decision that an Alabama federal court made no mistake in signing off on the deal.

The three-judge panel rejected a slew of objections from Home Depot, Topographic Inc., Employee Services Inc. and several individuals. In particular, the Eleventh Circuit rejected Home Depot’s contention that the release of claims under the settlement would prevent national employers not participating in the settlement from making similar claims in the future.

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The parties in MDL No. 2406 In Re: Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation responded to the Court’s October 19, 2023 Show Cause Order regarding remand.

To View the Provider Plaintiffs Filing:

To view the Blues Filing:

The Eleventh Circuit rejected legal challenges to the Subscribers Track settlement in MDL 2406: IN Re: Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation on 10/25/2023.

Click to Read the Order.

Rochester, N.Y. — A national grassroots campaign delivered a strong message against corporate greed in the streets of Rochester Wednesday.

“CARE OVER COST” rallied outside the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield corporate office on Court Street. They claim the private health insurer is putting profit over people, denying members the treatment and medicines they deserve.

“We believe that all patients and providers end up being in a worse position because of private insurance companies,” said Ursula Rozum, the statewide healthcare lead for Citizen Action of New York. “(These) companies make work harder for the health care providers like WellNow, and they make life really stressful for patients.”

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The Honorable R. David Proctor of the Northern District of Alabama entered a Show Cause Order asking the parties to show cause why the court should not file a suggestion of remand with he JPML on October 19, 2023.

Click to view the Order

Law360 (September 22, 2023, 7:59 PM EDT) — The Eleventh Circuit didn’t seem to be buying what objectors to a $2.67 billion antitrust deal with Blue Cross Blue Shield were selling Friday during oral arguments, where the panel heard from more than half a dozen attorneys, and one pro se litigant, on why they should or should not undo the settlement.

All three judges on the panel — two Eleventh Circuit judges and one visiting judge from Florida federal court — quizzed the presenting parties Friday morning, expressing doubt more than once about the argument that the $2.67 billion agreement was unfair and should not have been approved.
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NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – State lawmakers spent six hours questioning executives of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana over the planned sale of the company to Elevance Health of Indiana.

The legislature’s Joint Committee held a hearing to get details about the proposed sale of BCBS, which is the largest healthcare insurer in Louisiana.

Steven Udvarhelyi, M.D. is CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield. He explained that Elevance is formerly Anthem.

“As you may know, it’s a new name. They previously were Anthem. They are the parent company of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in 14 other states,” said Udvarhelyi.

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By: Sierra Krug

8 News

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A contract dispute between Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Bon Secours recently escalated with the insurance company filing a cease and desist. They said the healthcare system has been wrongfully denying patients coverage.

After 11,000 Anthem Medicare Advantage patients lost coverage with Bon Secours facilities due to contract re-negotiation disagreements back on Aug. 1. The insurance company’s president, Monica Schmude, said there’s been some confusion.

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