LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan officials hoped to start the new year with an operational overhaul that included ending its tax-exempt status and transforming itself from a charitable trust to customer-owned nonprofit.
Instead, they're beginning 2013 doing the same thing they did in the final months of 2012: Lobbying state lawmakers and the governor.
The state's largest health insurer is back encouraging action on the overhaul legislation after Republican Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed it. Snyder balked last month at the bill he proposed because of language added by lawmakers preventing insurers and businesses from providing elective abortion coverage in employee health plans.
Blue Cross spokesman Andrew Hetzel says he's disappointed but believes the legislation is on "pretty firm footing" heading into the session that starts in the coming week.
