Introduced by Sen. Joe Hune R-Hamburg on September 19, 2012
To convert Blue Cross Blue Shield into something that would be called a “nonprofit mutual insurance company,” make it subject to the same regulations as regular health insurers, and no longer exempt BCBS from state and local taxes. Under the federal “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (aka “Obamacare”) the BCBS “social mission” of being the “insurer of last resort” which was the rationale for its special tax-exempt status no longer applies, since all insurance companies would be subject to similar "guaranteed issue" mandates. Official Text and Analysis.
Referred to the Senate Insurance Committee on September 19, 2012
Reported in the Senate on October 17, 2012
With the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
Substitute offered in the Senate on October 17, 2012
To replace the previous version of the bill with one tha, among other changes, bans BCBS from negotiating anti-competitive reimbursement arrangements with health care providers which prohibit them from giving a for-profit insurance company the same low price BCBS is able to extract due to its dominant position in the market (dubbed "most favorite nation" arrangements).
The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on October 17, 2012
To convert Blue Cross Blue Shield into a “nonprofit mutual insurance company” (technically "owned" by the policy holders), make it subject to the same regulations as regular health insurers, and no longer exempt BCBS from state and local taxes. The bill requires BCBS to spend $1.5 billion in accumulated reserves over 18 years to augment government health welfare programs.
Received in the House on November 8, 2012
Referred to the House Insurance Committee on November 8, 2012
Reported in the House on December 5, 2012
With the recommendation that the substitute (H-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
Substitute offered in the House on December 6, 2012
The substitute failed by voice vote in the House on December 6, 2012
Substitute offered by Rep. Pete Lund R-Shelby Twp. on December 6, 2012
To adopt a version of the bill that requires BCBS to contribute more to "Medigap" insurance subsidies for seniors, and prohibits it from entering so-called "most favored nation" agreements with health care providers that allegedly requires providers to charge other insurance companies more for health care services than they charge BCBS (this was the subject of a U.S. Department of Justice anti-trust lawsuit).
The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on December 6, 2012
To convert Blue Cross Blue Shield into a “nonprofit mutual insurance company” (technically "owned" by the policy holders), make it subject to the same regulations as regular health insurers, and no longer exempt BCBS from state and local taxes.