Blue Cross Announces Snitch Hotline

 

November 2009

Dear Producer:

Re: Health Care Service Corporation’s Code of Business Ethics and Conduct

Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) and its subsidiaries are committed to the highest standards of business ethics and integrity as well as compliance with all applicable laws and regulations governing its business operations. HCSC requires that all employees adhere to these standards. Doing so will enhance and reinforce the Company’s status as a responsible corporate citizen and will maintain the confidence of the Company’s employees, customers, providers and the public in its honesty and integrity.

HCSC adopted a Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (the “Code”) to further its commitment to a culture that promotes legal and ethical behavior. The Code defines HCSC’s values and behavioral expectations for every employee of the Company. We place the utmost importance on the observance of these principles. Compliance with the Code is a condition of employment for every HCSC employee.

HCSC’s excellent reputation depends not only on the conduct of its employees but also on the honesty, integrity and good judgement of the people and organizations with whom we do business. We value the relationships we have with our producers. We realize that these relationships are built on trust and cooperation and many have developed over years of working together. We must always maintain the highest standards of integrity and objectivity in these working relationships and we will not conduct business with anyone who does not operate with integrity or who compromises our Company’s values and ethical standards or encourages our employees to do so.

HCSC’s Code of Business Ethics and Conduct is available on our web sites at www.bcbsil.com, www.bcbsnm.com, www.bcbsok.com and www.bcbstx.com. Please share this information with your employees and agents who do business with HCSC. Of particular importance are the integrity standards related to conflict of interest, fair competition, confidential information, accuracy of records and gifts and gratuities and I ask that you review these standards carefully. Your understanding and support of our Code will allow us to work effectively together and with the highest level of integrity.

As a producer selling our products, you must bring forth any concerns of suspected health care fraud or other questionable practices. The toll-free Integrity Hotline number is 1-877-272-9741. Persons reporting such information need not identify themselves. The Hotline is available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week.

If you have any questions regarding HCSC’s Code of Business Ethics and Conduct, please call the Hotline. We appreciate your cooperation. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Thomas C. Lubben
Chief Compliance Officer

Editor’s Note:      “We  (Blue Cross) will not conduct business with anyone who does not operate with integrity” – What a novel concept!