Coalition Applauds AG Mike Cox and Sen. Mike Bishop for Leading Fight to Stop Blue Cross Bills

LANSING, Mich., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ — The Coalition for Access and
Affordability in Michigan (CAAM), Put Michigan People First and Michigan
Association of Health Plans today expressed appreciation to Attorney General

Mike Cox, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, Sen. Tom George and the Senate
Republican caucus for strong leadership in stopping bills supported by Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Michigan that would have taken away oversight from the
attorney general and that would have allowed the Blues to dramatically raise
rates on the elderly and sick without permission from the state. The bills
could have resulted in an overall increase in Michigan health care costs of
more than 23%.

“Attorney General Mike Cox and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop have
shown tremendous courage in leading the fight to stop action on bills that
would have made enormous changes in Michigan health care coverage. Mike Cox and his office did a magnificent job in leading the charge to stop these
complex, intricate bills from being taken up by the legislature after the
election, when everything is so hurried,” said RoAnne Chaney, project manager
for the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, which joined with Consumers
Union, AARP, Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan, the National
Multiple Sclerosis Society-Michigan Chapter, Paralyzed Veterans of America and
others to form the Put Michigan First Coalition.

“ Mike Bishop, along with Sen. Tom George, the lead senator on the
conference committee dealing with the bills, stood up to intense lobbying
spending by BCBSM. They and other members of the Senate Republican caucus
have been profiles in courage,” Debbie Lantzy-Talpos, president of CAAM said.
“We look forward to Blue Cross joining consumers, health plans, and others at
the table early next year. We also want to make sure that we integrate
Michigan’s next steps with the national health care plans that are going to be
considered in Washington.”

“By working to assure that these bills will be debated next year, when
there can be a complete examination of the issue, Attorney General Cox, Senate
Majority Leader Bishop, and Sen. George have helped all Michigan residents.
We are committed to working with Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Sen. Bishop, and
Speaker Dillon in crafting meaningful health reform legislation early in
2009,” MAHP Executive Director Rick Murdock said.

In addition to the three major groups, the Michigan UAW, Michigan AFL-CIO
and other organizations, numerous hospitals and others opposed these bills.

For more information visit:

www.putmichiganpeoplefirst.com

www.mahp.org

SOURCE Put Michigan People First