More notice ought to be taken – more headlines, even – when you see press releases like this one from Idaho Regence Blue Shield:
Regence BlueShield of Idaho announced today that Shad Priest, deputy director of the Idaho Department of Insurance, will be joining Regence [emphasis added] as the director of legislative and regulatory affairs in Idaho. Priest will begin his new role on August 15.
“Shad’s strong background in insurance, coupled with his experience in working with legislators, industry members and the public on insurance-related matters will make him a valuable member of our team,†said Scott Kreiling, president of Regence BlueShield of Idaho. “He has a track record of developing consensus-based regulatory policies that blend consumer needs and insurance industry priorities, which is especially important in a post health care reform world.â€
In a “post health care reform world” – we’d dispute that we’re actually there – or is that intended to mean a world in which reform has come and gone already? – the insurers and the state agency officials who are in theory regulating them would have a tense and standoffish relationship, punctuated with sharp differences of opinion and an uneasy relationship. You might even see as evidence public events (like the contentious June 2 rate hearing Oregon Regence had before Oregon regulators, not that they’ve historically been very tough either) that throw a sharp spotlight on rate setting and practices, this being a world (the world we see) in which fewer and fewer people can afford health insurance because rates keep on rising while coverage scales back.
Don’t hold your breath.
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