Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina's board of trustees is immediately developing new corporate governance protocols for reporting significant events, the organization said in a written statement Oct. 9.
The decision comes after Patrick Conway, MD, the former CEO of BCBSNC, was found guilty of driving while impaired and misdemeanor child abuse after a car crash in June. BCBSNC trustees faced large criticism for keeping the incident under wraps until local media learned about it nearly three months after the arrest.
In a letter to North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, who urged the health insurer to name an interim CEO after revelations about Dr. Conway's alleged actions surfaced, BCBSNC acknowledged disappointing its customers.
"We understand the handling of the incidents surrounding former Blue Cross NC CEO Dr. Patrick Conway has disappointed many of our valued customers, state leaders, and employees," the board said. "Please know that throughout this process our Board's actions were based on the information known to us at that time, and our actions were always made in good faith. While we cannot undo the events that have unfolded over recent weeks, we can act to restore your trust. To that end, our Board of Trustees is developing new, enhanced procedures to improve transparency in the reporting of significant events."
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