Sixth Circuit (again) Rules in Favor of Saginaw Chippewa in Beef with Blue Cross

Here is the opinion in Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

An excerpt:

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and its Benefit Plan brought federal and common law claims against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM or Blue Cross) for failing to fulfill its fiduciary duties in administering tribal health insurance plans. When we first encountered this dispute three years ago, we reversed the district court’s dismissal of the Tribe’s claims based on Blue Cross’s alleged failure to insist on “Medicare-like rates” for care authorized by the Tribe’s Contract Health Services1 program and provided to tribal members by Medicare-participating hospitals. On remand, the district court granted summary judgment to Blue Cross, concluding that the Tribe’s payments for qualified CHS care through the Blue Cross plans were not eligible for Medicare-like rates. The district court interpreted the relevant federal regulations as limiting the requirement of Medicare-like rates to payments for care that was authorized by CHS, provided to tribal members by Medicare- participating hospitals, and directly paid for with CHS funds. Based on the plain wording of the applicable regulations, we REVERSE and REMAND the case to the district court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Briefs:

Lower court materials here.

Insurance Company Prevails over Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe in Suit Alleging Failure to Seek Medicare-Like Rates

Here are the materials in Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe v. Blue Cross Blue Shield (E.D. Mich.):

173 BCBS Motion for Summary Judgment

177 Response

178 Reply

197 DCT Order

Prior post here.

Update (2/2/2021):

199 Motion to Amend

201 Response

202 DCT Order

Saginaw Chippewa’s Claims re: Medicare-Like Rates Survive Blue Cross Motion to Dismiss

Here are the materials on remand from the Sixth Circuit in Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe v. Blue Cross Blue Shield (E.D. Mich.):

142 BCBS Motion to Dismiss

144 Tribe Response

145 Reply

146 DCT Order

Prior posts here.

Sixth Circuit Revives One of the Dismissed Claims against BCBS [Medicare Like Rates]

Here is the unpublished opinion in Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe v. Blue Cross Blue Shield.

A separate unpublished opinion on attorneys fees is here.

Prior posts here.