Editor’s note: The following is the text of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ response to Wednesday’s unanimous ruling by the Kansas Supreme Court to uphold her February 2002 decision to block the sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas to an Indiana insurance company. Sebelius blocked the sale when she was insurance commissioner, before being elected governor.

“I am very pleased the Court has upheld my decision to deny the takeover of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. This is an important victory for the nearly 750,000 Kansans who rely on Blue Cross and Blue Shield for their health care services and the insurance buying public who need access to affordable, reliable health care.

“Eight years ago, I was chosen as insurance commissioner, with a mandate to stand up for consumers. During those eight years, I kept that commitment, making consumers a top priority and protecting the business owners, individuals, seniors and families who depended on insurance in their times of need.

“As insurance commissioner, it was my responsibility to create a climate that allowed the insurance industry to prosper, but also to guarantee that prosperity served the People of Kansas.

“I denied the takeover of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas by Anthem of Indiana because it would have cost Kansas businesses, small employers and families millions of dollars in additional health insurance premiums.

“Anthem of Indiana would have forced these premium increases on some of our most vulnerable consumers-businesses, individuals and small employers. Because health care costs are rising every year, Kansans and Kansas business owners already struggle to afford health insurance at its current price. It was my duty to protect them from an even greater burden.

“The takeover by Anthem of Indiana would have:
¢ Drained Blue Cross’s reserves;
¢ Scattered its expertise across the Anthem holding company; and
¢ Linked Kansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield with Anthem of Indiana’s worst performing region.

“I approached this transaction with an open mind and carefully weighed all the evidence before me. After weighing the evidence before them, the Kansas Supreme Court agrees that this takeover is clearly not in the best interest of the people of Kansas who would be forced to pay million of dollars of additional health insurance premiums while the company reserves, now dedicated to Kansans, would be drained. This is the best outcome for the people of our state.”