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« Brotherhood premieres at PPAC tonight | Today | Update: All 11 fire departments bow out of drill » September 27, 2007Update: Blue Cross to make cuts; details unknownBlue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island said today it is cutting staff and eliminating "several programs and functions" to lower its operating expenses. In a two-paragraph statement, the state's publicly chartered health insurer makes no mention of how many staff members are being cut or which programs -- or how any of that will impact the public. The corporation said it's "under increasing competitive pressure to provide high-quality health insurance for less. To retain our market share and to ensure the long-term viability and success of the company -- we must operate at the lowest reasonable cost." The statement adds: "Out of respect and sensitivity to those individuals who are directly impacted, it would be inappropriate for us to provide any more information," the statement says. "We are making every effort to treat those individuals with the dignity and respect they deserve." Blue Cross is one of the state's two dominant health insurers. The other is UnitedHealthcare, which beat out Blue Cross early this year for the state employees' health insurance contract. Blue Cross is an independent, nonprofit company, while United is a for-profit subsidiary of a national company. The major news this year from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island has been construction plans for a new headquarters in the Capital Center in Providence. It plans a 13-story, 325,000-square-foot building rising 237 feet at the corner of Park Row and Exchange Street and above a parking garage under construction to serve two residential towers. As of April, the insurer had about 1,100 employees in Providence, in six locations, two owned, four rented. The company has said it plans to sell the two buildings it alreay owns for $20 million and put the proceeds toward the cost of constructing the $114-million building. Blue Cross has said it hopes to begin constructing the building late this year and occupy the site in early 2010. It is slated to get $25 million in tax breaks from the city, under a plan negotiated in 2004 with Intercontinental when the developer signed its long-term lease on the two-acre Capital Center parcel, Blue Cross officials have said. In May, Governor Carcieri had expressed concerns about the location in terms of perception: an expensive location. But Blue Cross & Blue Shield officials have said locating there saves money long term, including because of efficiencies resulting from consolidating in one spot. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney and Journal archival reports Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsMARK | September 27, 2007 3:46 PM link BCBS cancelled Blue Chip, a direct pay plan for individuals and switched those clients to Healthmate Coast to Coast. My premiums are now double what they were and my copays are higher. The one good thing is that it includes prescription drug coverage, which the old plan did not. Susan Geary | September 27, 2007 3:59 PM link Perhaps they can start with that army of LOBBYISTS they have at the State House putting the screws to everyone. Ronnie | September 27, 2007 4:18 PM link I WONDER WHO PROTECT THE CITIZENS IN PROVIDENCE WHAT ARE THE GOVERNOR DOING TAX WHEN UP THE STREET ARE HORRIBLE IN PROVIDENCE WHAT IS GOING IN ON. Helen | September 27, 2007 11:06 PM link Welcome to the Blue Cross Spin cycle. The company claims they won’t say what departments were cut to protect employees. Bull! Jim Purcell doesn’t want any outside scrutiny of his cuts. The may effect customers and he does not want to answer for that. Why not cut the pay of the executives? They are most responsible for ballooning administrative expense. Bureaucracy’s take on a life of there own. The Blue Cross bureaucracy is run for the benefit of the people running the bureaucracy. It’s good to be king. Hey King James, How much of an administrative expense is your benefit package? You’ll probably get a raise after you chopped off some of the little people. Do you have a conscience Charles | September 28, 2007 4:53 AM link It is frustrating to me when a company isn't making enough money, yet their buildings and computer equipment are top notch. Their operating costs are not the problem. If they shaved the corporate top heavies, they could afford to keep the workers on the bottom. How much profit do they need to make?!?! Meaghan | September 28, 2007 8:43 AM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
PLAIN AND SIMPLE.....THE HIGHER UPS AT BCBS OF RI NEED TO PERFORM THESE CUTS IN ORDER TO COVER THE COSTS OF THEIR NEW OFFICE BUILDING WITH PRIME VIEWS...NO SURPRISE. ONLY THE GULLABLE WILL BUY INTO THIS LAME EXCUSE. THE SELF-PAY CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO ARE LAID OFF WILL SUFFER. DOES THIS SURPRISE THE RI PUBLIC?? IS OUR GOVERNOR GOING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?? NO AND NO.