MN: Class-Action Dismissed, Tobacco Money Freed
A Dakota County District Court order put an end to a class-action lawsuit against Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Minnesota, allowing millions of tobacco-settlement dollars to be released, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Sept. 8.
A total of $411 million will be released to clinics, prevention programs, and individuals as a result of the decision. The healthcare provider intends to spend $241 million on disease prevention, including anti-tobacco programs, $30 million for clinics serving uninsured populations, $70 million to provide insurance to underserved persons, $30 million in refunds to insured persons, and $41 million to employers.
Distribution of these funds will begin as soon as the appeals period on the decision has expired. The money comes from a 1998 settlement between BCBS and the tobacco industry.
