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> Document 502 : INS 99-14 : Hearing Decision
STATE OF MAINE
On March 2, 2000, counsel for Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. ("Anthem") received a signed confidentiality agreement and request for access to confidential information from Bonnie Post, Executive Director of the Maine Ambulatory Care Coalition ("MACC"). Because Ms. Post is neither an attorney for the MACC, nor one its experts, as per the Superintendent’s October 19, 1999 Protective Order, Anthem objects to MACC’s request. The relevant terms of the Superintendent’s Protective Order are clear:
(October 19, 1999 Protective Order, ¶5(a).) Restricting access to confidential information to counsel and experts is reasonable and is a practice that the courts and the Superintendent routinely follow. See, e.g, In re Form A Filing of Provident Companies, Inc. et al., Docket No. INS-99-1, May 17, 1999 Order Denying Request to Amend Protective Order ("The Superintendent finds that restricting access to counsel of record for intervenors is a reasonable manner in which to reduce the possible dissemination of proprietary information."); Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve System v. Merrill, 443 U.S. 340, 363, n.25 (1979) ("commonly, the trial court will enter a protective order restricting disclosure to counsel"); C. Wright, A. Miller & R. Marcus, 8 Federal Practice and Procedure at 566, n.1 (1994) (listing decisions holding same); 4 Moore’s Federal Practice, ¶26.105[8][b] at 26-278.1 (1999) (courts "frequently" limit access to counsel and/or experts). Sheldon Wheeler, Community Development Coordinator for the MACC, also previously requested access to confidential information. At the time Anthem’s counsel executed the confidentiality agreement, he assumed Mr. Wheeler was an attorney because one of the provisions of that agreement states that the person requesting access is an "Authorized Person", i.e., either an attorney or a party’s expert consultant. In following-up on Ms. Post’s request, Anthem learned that Mr. Wheeler is not an attorney or consultant. Counsel for Anthem immediately telephoned Mr. Wheeler and informed him of the attorney/consultant requirement. Mr. Wheeler confirmed that he is neither, but that the MACC has a consultant, Alice Rose, Esq., who has signed a confidentiality agreement that is on file at the Bureau of Insurance. Mr. Wheeler stated that the MACC may object to the attorney/consultant requirement, but agreed that neither he, nor anyone else at MACC other than Attorney Rose, would perform any further review of designated confidential information unless permitted by order of the Superintendent. For the reasons set forth herein, Anthem objects to providing Ms. Post or Mr. Wheeler with access to confidential information.
DATED: March 3, 2000 _____________________________ James B. Zimpritch, Esq. Jeffrey M. White, Esq. Catherine R. Connors, Esq. PIERCE ATWOOD Portland, Maine 04101 (207) 791-1100 Attorneys for Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE The undersigned hereby certifies that on March 3, 2000 a copy of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.’s Objection to Request for Access to Confidential Information was served by United States mail, first class postage prepaid, email, or, where indicated, by hand delivery, on each of the persons listed below. Robert S. Frank, Esq. Harvey & Frank Two City Center P.O. Box 126 Portland, Maine 04112 e-mail: frank@harveyfrank.com
(Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Maine) Judith Chamberlain, Esq. State of Maine Department of the Attorney General 6 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0006 e-mail: judy.chamberlain@state.me.us
(Bureau of Insurance) William H. Laubenstein, Esq. State of Maine Department of the Attorney General 6 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0006 e-mail: bill.laubenstein@state.me.us
(Office of the Attorney General) Gregory A. Brodek, Esq. Duane, Morris & Heckscher, LLP 15 Columbia Street, 4th Floor Bangor, Maine 04401-6355 e-mail: gabrodek@duanemorris.com
(Maine Health Alliance) Joseph P. Ditre, Esq. Consumer Health Law Program One Weston Court, Level One P.O. Box 2490 Augusta, Maine 04338-2490 e-mail: jditre@mainecahc.org
(Consumers for Affordable Health Care Foundation/Coalition) Michele M. Garvin, Esq. Ropes & Gray One International Place Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2624 e-mail: Mgarvin@Ropesgray.com
(Central Maine Healthcare Corporation; Central Maine Partners Health Plan) Robert I. Goldman Maine Council of Senior Citizens 27 Bowery Beach Road Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107 e-mail: Rgoldma1@maine.rr.com
(Maine Council of Senior Citizens) Bonnie Post Executive Director of the Maine Ambulatory Care Coalition P.O. Box 390 Manchester, Maine 04351 e-mail: bdpmacc@mint.net
(Sacopee Valley Health Center, Regional Medical Center at Lubec, Eastport Health Care, Inc., and the Maine Ambulatory Care Coalition) John Dieffenbacher-Krall Executive Director Maine People’s Alliance 192 State Street Portland, Maine 04101 e-mail: MPA@gwi.net
(Maine People’s Alliance) Gordon H. Smith, Esq. Maine Medical Association 30 Association Drive P.O. Box 190 Manchester, Maine 04351 e-mail: gsmith@ctel.net
(Thomas D. Hayward, M.D., Maroulla S. Gleaton, M.D., And the Maine Medical Association)
Donald E. Quigley, Esq. General Counsel 465 Congress Street, Suite 600 Portland, Maine 04101-3537 e-mail: quigld@mail.mmc.org
(Maine Medical Center) Sandra L. Parker, Esq. John Doyle, Jr., Esq. Attorneys for MHA, Inc. 150 Capitol Street Augusta, Maine 04330 e-mail: sparker@themha.org
jdoyle@preti.com (MHA, Inc.) Kellie P. Miller, M.S. Executive Director Maine Osteopathic Association 693 Western Avenue Manchester, Maine 04351 e-mail: meosteo@mint.net
(Maine Osteopathic Association)
DATED: March 3, 2000 _____________________________ James B. Zimpritch, Esq. Jeffrey M. White, Esq. Catherine R. Connors, Esq. PIERCE ATWOOD Portland, Maine 04101 (207) 791-1100 Attorneys for Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc Last Updated: July 16, 2008 |
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