STATE OF MAINE
DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION
BUREAU OF INSURANCE

On April 10, 2000, the Attorney General filed a motion with the Superintendent in the above-captioned proceeding requesting:

1. an extension by at least two weeks of the current deadline for the filing of written closing arguments, such that they are due no sooner than April 26, 2000; and
2. the scheduling of additional opportunity for public comment no sooner than two weeks from April 10, 2000.

All parties were provided an opportunity to respond to the Attorney General’s motion, and responses were provided on April 12, 2000 by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine ("Blue Cross"), Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. ("Anthem"), and jointly by Consumers for Affordable Health Care ("CAHC") and Maine Ambulatory Care Coalition ("MACC"). No responses were provided by Maine Medical Association, MHA, Inc. [Maine Hospital Association], Maine Peoples Alliance, Maine Osteopathic Association and Maine Medical center.

As explained in detail in their responses, both Blue Cross and Anthem oppose the Attorney General’s motion. CAHC/MACC’s joint response supports that portion of the Attorney General’s motion requesting the scheduling of additional opportunity for public comment, but that it be no sooner than two weeks from the date that closing arguments are filed. CAHC/MACC’s joint response did not request an extension of the April 14, 2000 deadline for the filing of written closing arguments as requested in the Attorney General’s motion.

The Superintendent hereby DENIES that portion of the Attorney General’s motion requesting an extension of the deadline for the filing of written closing arguments, such that they are due no sooner than April 26, 2000; and GRANTS that portion of the Attorney General’s motion requesting the scheduling of additional opportunity for public comment, as set forth below in this Order.

Justification

The subject matter of this proceeding involves the conversion of the State’s only remaining nonprofit health insurance company to a for-profit company in accordance with Maine law. As a part of this process, Maine law also requires the establishment of a charitable trust benefiting Maine citizens and receiving the value of Blue Cross upon conversion. The Superintendent recognizes the Attorney General’s requests on behalf of members of the public and representatives of the Maine Legislature. Because of the significant public interest in this proceeding, the Superintendent finds justification to grant additional opportunity for public comment.

Additional Opportunity for Public Comment

The record in this proceeding is reopened for purposes of providing the public additional time for the submission of written comment with the Superintendent until 5:00 p.m. April 28, 2000. The record will be closed at that time.

The public may provide written comment with the Superintendent in the following manner:

1. electronically via e-mail addressed to Lyndy.P.Morgan@state.me.us
2. by mail addressed to:

   Superintendent

   Bureau of Insurance

   34 State House Station

   Augusta, ME 04333-0034

3. by hand delivery to:

   Bureau of Insurance

   124 Northern Avenue

   Gardiner, ME 04345

Closing Written Statements

The deadline for the parties to file closing written statements with the Superintendent remains at 3:00 p.m. April 14, 2000. The parties are reminded of the filing requirements established in the Superintendent’s November 4, 1999 Procedural Order, particularly the requirement for the submission of electronic copies.

The Superintendent encourages the parties to make available all closing written statements on their web sites for public access.

With the exception of the closing written statements, no other filings are to be made by the parties absent compliance with Chapter 350 of the Bureau’s Rules.

Public Access to Information

Following the receipt of the written closing statements, the Superintendent will take efforts to place expeditiously in the public domain all non-confidential aspects of the closing written statements. The Superintendent’s efforts will include:

1. placing the closing written statements on the Bureau’s web site for public access;
2. providing for hard copies of the closing written statements at public libraries in Bangor, Lewiston, Auburn, Portland and Augusta, Maine;
3. using display ads in newspapers of general distribution. The display ads will inform the public of the additional opportunity to provide written comment to the Superintendent and of the ability to access the closing written statements.

The Superintendent reminds parties, the public, and interested persons that, in addition to the closing written statements, non-confidential information previously filed in this proceeding is available at the Bureau’s offices in Gardiner, Maine, or on the Bureau’s web site at www.maine.gov/insurance. This web site may be accessed electronically over the internet, which is publicly available from many libraries, schools, and home computers.

PER ORDER OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

Dated: April 13, 2000                                              __________________________________

Alessandro A. Iuppa

Superintendent