Blue Cross undergoes examination
Lisa Girion
Los Angeles Times
Executives and supporters of Blue Cross were on hand to say the company is committed to California and that its policies represent a good deal for members.
Blue Cross said it only made sense that it would receive the most complaints because of its position as the state's No. 1 healthcare plan. The company said that on the whole its members were well served.
But the dominant message was just the opposite from a standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 patients, physicians and hospital operators at the daylong hearing.
"Something must be done now by the department," said Janet Stephens, a disabled nurse with a bladder condition who has watched her benefits decline while her Blue Cross premium has steadily risen in recent years to $569 a month.
Protesters carrying signs reading "Blue Cross makes us sick" picketed outside the hearing room before the meeting began. They said the health plan provided an example of why healthcare reform was needed.
"Blue Cross promised to be a good citizen," said Anthony Wright, executive director of HealthAccess California, a consumer group based in Sacramento. "But right now it's clear they need to be put on probation."
Cindy Ehnes, director of the state Department of Managed Health Care, called the hearing to help the agency evaluate how well Blue Cross has served Californians since it was purchased by Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc. nearly three years ago. The department said it had received more than 4,100 calls and complaints regarding Blue Cross since the merger.
August 8, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Blog Reactions
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I'M WRITING IN THE HOPE THAT 'SOMEONE' OUT THERE WILL SEND ME INFORMATION AS TO HOW THE LOS ANGELES SB 840 DEMONSTRATION WENT ON AUGUST 11?? I CAN FIND NOTHING ON THE WEB; I CAN FIND NOTHING ON THE 'MAINSTREAM-BLACKED OUT(?)' NEWS.
I'M IN MENDOCINO COUNTY AND COULDN'T ATTEND IN LOS ANGELES. WHY DOES NOBODY POST INFORMATION REGARDING THESE EVENTS? HELP HELP!!!
I'D LOVE TO HAVE SOME WEB PAGES THAT TELL ME:
THE 'MOOD'
HOW MANY ATTENDED?
INCIDENTS-OR NOT?
WHAT OCCURRED?
WHO THE SPEAKERS WERE?
IT SEEMS--EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE COMPUTERS, IN THE 1960'S THE TELEPHONE'TREES' GOT INFORMATION OUT MORE QUICKLY!
QUICK FOLLOW UP ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE IS A BALL THAT'S DROPPED. JUST BECAUSE WE COULDN'T 'BE' THERE, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE NOT INTERESTED!
PLEASE, SEND ME INFORMATION...PLEASE!!!
THANK YOU
ILA JONES
Posted by: Ila | August 12, 2007 06:10 PM