The News Journal

Deal to open Blue Cross data to public was correct

OPINION • DelawareOnline • February 24, 2011

It seems like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware has been trying to merge with another, larger insurer forever.

And the first couple of rounds a few years back involving the proposed merger of Delaware's Blues with a Maryland Blue Cross affiliate was surrounded by secrecy over so-called corporate proprietary information.

The proposal was eventually killed by Maryland regulators, and the merger was again put on the back burner.

But most recently, Highmark, a Pittsburgh health insurer, resurrected the merger idea, and BCBSD was off to the approval process once again. State Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart will make the final decision, but she has also appointed former Family Court judge Battle Robinson to review the proposed merger as it unfolds.

And, as expected, Highmark contends the terms of the deal should be kept secret for competitive reasons.

Much to the credit of Commissioner Stewart and the state Department of Justice, objections to the "wholesale redaction" of the merger documents were quick and forceful.

Highmark's lawyers had originally petitioned the insurance department to block the public from viewing any merger documents.

There will be some redactions for proprietary information, but most of the deal will be handled openly, in public. That's the way it should be.