The Ohio Blue Cross conversion: building an opposition

In March, state insurance regulators rejected the bid of Blue Cross of Ohio to sell the business to Columbia/HCA, saying it would not be in the public interest. The decision came as a shock to those who assumed the transaction would get pro forma approval. The fact that it received press, public, and regulatory attention is due largely to the efforts of a coalition of consumer interests, supported by Community Catalyst. This issue of States of Health outlines how Community Catalyst and other groups successfully focused and strengthened opposition to a deal that disposed of public assets without public participation or representation.