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U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said having insurers as "good partners" is part of health
care reform, but she made no promises Friday to tone down criticism of an industry the Obama administration has attacked repeatedly.
Sebelius said officials plan to invite "a host of major insurers" to meet as they work to implement the reform
measure passed by Congress in March that aims to cover millions of uninsured people.
"The Affordable Care Act is built around the private health care system, and so having insurers as good partners is
part of the effort," she said. "We want to stabilize the private insurance market and make sure that Americans have
access to choices and high quality coverage."
But the secretary also said she would not hesitate to "go after" practices that will be illegal because the law
passed. She didn't offer examples.
Sebelius spoke in Indianapolis less than a mile from the corporate headquarters of WellPoint Inc., a frequent target of criticism.
WellPoint operates Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in several states.
Earlier this month, Sebelius asked state governors to re-examine the insurer's rate increases after auditors found problems
with a plan by WellPoint's California subsidiary, Anthem Blue Cross, to hike individual insurance premiums by about 25
percent on average.
That increase, which WellPoint attributes in part to rising medical costs, drew administration rebukes in the weeks before
reform passed. Many say it helped build momentum for the bill.
WellPoint CEO Angela Braly told Obama in a recent letter that attacks on the industry "must end" to make reform
work. She also said the company has repeatedly asked for a meeting with Sebelius but received no response.
Sebelius said Friday the WellPoint CEO would be included in future meetings. The HHS secretary also said WellPoint was one
of the first health insurers to voluntarily extend coverage for young adults on parental insurance plans until a reform provision
begins this fall.
"They have been a leader and a major player, and we look forward to working with them," she said.
Sebelius stopped in Indianapolis as part of an HHS announcement that $1 billion in stimulus money has been awarded for scientific
research facilities. She spoke after touring a hospital area that will be converted to a pediatric clinical research center
thanks to an $8.4 million grant.
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