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Blue Cross Deal Collapses

Faced with opposition from State Treasurer John Fleming, M.D., members of the Louisiana Senate, the State Medical Society and other physician groups, and its own voting members, Blue Cross has announced it is withdrawing a reorganization plan underway since last year. Just a few days ago, many in politics thought the plan was unstoppable. Then suddenly it crashed […]

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Elevance CEO Gets Compensation of $20.9 Million a Year

Gail Koziara Boudreaux serves as CEO of Elevance Health (formerly Anthem), the company that proposes to buy the book of business currently owned by Blue Cross of Louisiana. Ms. Boudreaux, a native of Chicopee, MA, is one of the highest paid CEO’s in the health insurance business.  Her compensation for 2022 was $20.9 million according […]

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Depositions Unmask the Blue Cross Deal

By Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News – Baton Rouge In August 2023, Baton Rouge attorney Henry “Tut” Kinney filed suit to stop the proposed sale of Blue Cross of Louisiana to Elevance, the nation’s largest health insurer. On Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, Kinney deposed Blue Cross CEO Dr. Steve Udvarhelyi and Tim Barfield, the […]

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Treasurer Dr. John Fleming Spells Out Problems with Proposed Blue Cross Sale

STATEMENT  BY LOUISIANA TREASURER JOHN FLEMING, M.D. Ronald Reagan Luncheon Thursday, February 8, 2024 The Sale of Blue Cross I come before you today as your new State Treasurer but perhaps more importantly as a practicing physician who has spent a lifetime as a family doctor in the City of Minden, Louisiana. Like thousands of […]

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Attorney General Liz Murrill Issues Strong Rebuke of Blue Cross’ Plan

In a strongly worded letter to Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple, Attorney General Liz Murrill outlined grave concerns about the proposed Blue Cross reorganization plan. Her letter was issued on Mardi Gras day, Feb. 13, 2024.  Later that day, Blue Cross notified Temple they were withdrawing their proposal. Here are excerpts from the Attorney General’s […]

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Attorney Sues Blue Cross to Stop Giving $3.4 Billion to Foundation

The proposed sale of 100-year-old, member-owned Blue Cross/Blue Shield system in Louisiana is bad for the members and bad for the state.  The basic plan is to sell this institution, which is owned and managed by its members and serves almost 80 percent of the health insureds in Louisiana, to a for-profit insurer, Elevance, formerly […]

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Blue Cross Withdraws Proposed Sale… for Now

 Local small business owners met at the Chamber of Commerce of East Baton Rouge Parish last week to their continue their attacks against a plan by the Board of Directors of Blue Cross of Louisiana to sell the company to a for-profit out-of-state insurance giant, Elevance. But just hours before the meeting, Blue Cross announced […]

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Hearing on Sale of Blue Cross Oct. 5-6

By Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News – Baton Rouge The Board of Blue Cross of Louisiana is moving forward with its plans to sell the non-profit mutual insurance company to a for-profit mega-insurance company called Elevance (formerly Anthem).  Blue Cross has 1.9 million policy holders in Louisiana, while Elevance has 47 million policy holders […]

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Sale Would Take $3.4 Billion from Members Of Blue Cross and Give It to New Foundation

By Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News – Baton Rouge Some con games are pretty sophisticated.  The taking of $3.4 billion from the owners of Blue Cross/Blue Shield is not one of them.  On the contrary, this slight of hand is quite simple, and it’s out in the open for anyone to see — if […]

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Louisiana Medical Society Opposes Proposed Sale of Blue Cross of LA

The Louisiana State Medical Society has announced its opposition to the proposed sale of Blue Cross to a for-profit, out-of-state company. In a letter to Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon, Dr. Richard J. Paddock, president of the society, wrote as follows: “On behalf of Louisiana physicians and the patients we care for, I would […]

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