Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin recently filed an administrative appeal with the Rhode Island Superior Court to request the review of the Rhode Island Office of Health Insurance Commissioner's (OHIC) decision and amended decision concerning raising the rates of Blue Cross Blue Shield in Rhode Island.
The proposal is to increase the Direct Pay line of business with Blue Cross. The appeal states the decision is invalid and should be sent to R.I. Gen. Laws § Nov. 18, 1944(g)(1)-(6) because the commissioner acted arbitrarily and unlawfully and made errors of law.
"As statutory representative of consumers, it is my responsibility and priority to protect the rights of Rhode Island ratepayers," Kilmartin said. "Having exhausted all administrative remedies in attempting to resolve this matter at the agency level, our office has filed this appeal. The state laws guiding OHIC's decision-making requirements are clear, and we do not believe they were followed in this case."
The attorney general previously filed a motion for reconsideration with the commissioner Aug. 7. He asked she reconsider the choice that she made Aug. 3, when she approved raised costs of Blue Cross in its Direct Pay line of business.
The company will be allowed to increase its rates 10 percent starting Jan. 1, 2016.