The Pennsylvania state insurance department is investigating whether the Blues plans are conducting unfair trade practice laws and is conducting formal market conduct examinations. The request for information is part of the inquiry into how the Blues operate and compete with other plans, according to the report. The investigation follows a failed merger between Highmark and Philadelphia-based Independence Blue Cross.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society supports the investigation, and Independence and the other two Blues in the state, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Capital BlueCross, are cooperating fully with the request, according to the report.
Officials from Highmark objected to the scope of the inquiry and the objectivity of the examiner and consultants used in the process, as they were the same ones used in the regulatory review of the failed merger, according to the report.
It is unclear how long Highmark’s resistance would delay the review.
Read the AMNews’s report on the Pennsylvania Blues plans.
