887 Highmark Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield; community group medical/surgical products rate increase; Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Independence Blue Cross areas; filing no. 200306

Highmark Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield; Community Group Medical/Surgical Products Rate Increase; Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Independence Blue Cross Areas; Filing No. 200306

[33 Pa.B. 2331]

   Highmark Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield requests approval to revise rates for Community Group Medical/Surgical plans in Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Independence Blue Cross plan areas. Increases will vary by plan area and program, reflecting differences in claim costs and expenses as follows:

Plan Area	Product	% Increase
Independence Blue Cross	Fee Schedule	25.96%
	UCR	23.52%
Blue Cross of Northeastern    Pennsylvania	Fee Schedule UCR	45.99% 37.81%

   This will affect about 14,800 contracts and produce additional premium income of about $7.4 million. The requested effective date of the change is October 1, 2003.

   Copies of the filing are available for public inspection during normal working hours, by appointment, at the Insurance Department's regional office in Harrisburg.

   Interested parties are invited to submit written comments, suggestions or objections to Bharat Patel, Actuary, Insurance Department, Accident and Health Bureau, Office of Rate and Policy Regulation, 1311 Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120, within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

M. DIANE KOKEN,   
Insurance Commissioner

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 03-887. Filed for public inspection May 9, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]