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March 11, 2005
Revised Information for Public Hearing - DISB Schedules a Public Hearing on Charitable Obligations and Charitable Performance of the DC Blue Cross/Blue Shield Program (GHMSI/Carefirst)
(Washington, DC) The Commissioner of the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, Lawrence H. Mirel, announces a Public Hearing to discuss the charitable and benevolent missions of GHMSI/Carefirst, the District's Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurer. The Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2005 from 10 am to 4 pm, in the First Floor Auditorium at One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. If necessary, the hearing will be continued the following day, Friday, March 25, 2005.
The DC Appleseed Center published a report in December 2004, charging that GHMSI has failed to meet its legal obligations as a charitable institution. The purpose of the Public Hearing is to receive testimony from GHMSI, Appleseed and the public regarding Appleseed's charges. The following issues will be addressed: (1) Whether GHMSI has a legal obligation to engage in charitable activities beyond what it is currently doing; (2) If so, what is the nature of that obligation and who should be the beneficiaries of it; and (3) Assuming there is such an obligation, how much charitable activity is appropriate, consistent with GHMSI's obligations to its policyholders and its need to remain solvent.
Individuals who wish to testify at the Public Hearing are requested to contact Leslie E. Johnson at (202) 442-7756 by 5 pm on Friday, March 18, 2005. Witnesses should bring twenty (20) copies of their written testimony to the Public Hearing. Public witnesses will be permitted a maximum of (5) five minutes to testify. For sign language interpretation, witnesses should indicate if they need those services when contacting the agency.
If you are unable to testify at the Public Hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. The record will be left open for submission until 5 pm on April 8, 2005. Written statements should be submitted to Leslie E. Johnson, DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, 810 First Street, NE, Suite 701, Washington, DC 20002. For more information, please call Leslie E. Johnson at (202) 442-7756.
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