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Entry Properties
Last modified
7/12/2021 9:52:23 AM
Creation date
3/9/2020 9:53:16 AM
Metadata
2020-058
Fields
Template:
Opinion Item
Opinion Type
Advisory Opinion
Docket Number
2020-058
Requesting Party
Michael Echols
Decision Date
3/6/2020
Law
La. R.S. 42:1113C
La. R.S. 42:1113D
La. R.S. 42:1111C(2)(d)
La. R.S. 42:1112
Caption
Advisory Opinion whereby the Code of Governmental Ethics would not prohibit Vantage health Plan from entering into a contract with the Office of Group Benefits while State Representative Michael Echols and his wife own less than 25% of Vantage Holdings, Inc.
Ethics Subject Matters
Prohibited Contracts
Prohibited Transactions
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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> OF LOU! DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> Coo j sir di. <br /> r <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> P.O.BOX 4368 <br /> * * BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> °F`c`• (225)219-5600 <br /> «o«•' <br /> FAX (225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> wwwethics.la goy <br /> March 9, 2020 <br /> Michael Echols <br /> State Representative—District 14 <br /> 1800 Riverside Drive <br /> Monroe, Louisiana 71201 <br /> Re: Louisiana Board of Ethics <br /> Docket No. 2020-058 <br /> Dear Rep. Echols, <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its meeting on March 6, 2020, considered your request for an <br /> advisory opinion as to the application of the Code of Governmental Ethics("Code")to you as State <br /> Representative for District 14 and your employment with Vantage Health Plan, Inc. <br /> FACTS PROVIDED <br /> You and your wife, Christie Echols, own 0.21% of Vantage Holdings, Inc. Your immediate family <br /> members collectively own an additional 1.37% of Vantage Holdings, Inc. The majority owner of <br /> Vantage Holdings, Inc. is Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company d/b/a Blue Cross Blue <br /> Shield of Louisiana. Vantage Holdings Inc. owns 100% of Vantage Health Plan, Inc. Your father- <br /> in-law, Dr. Patrick Jones, is the CEO of Vantage Holdings, Inc. and Vantage Health Plan, Inc. You <br /> are currently employed as the Director of Business Development for Vantage Health Plan, Inc. In <br /> January, you took office as State Representative for District 14. <br /> Office of Group Benefits Statutes <br /> i I <br /> The Office of Group Benefits ("OGB"), pursuant to the powers enumerated in La. R.S. 42:802, <br /> has the authority to negotiate contracts with health care providers for the provision of basic health <br /> care services to the employees of the State of Louisiana. La. R.S. 42:802A(8)(d)provides that any <br /> such contract "shall be subject to review and final approval" by the appropriate standing <br /> committees of the legislature having jurisdiction, or the oversight subcommittees, and the Office <br /> of State Procurement of the Division of Administration. La. R.S. 42:802D further provides that <br /> any new plan of benefits shall be "subject to review and final approval by the Joint Legislative <br /> Committee on the Budget" and any adjustments to such contracts in an amount greater than $1 <br /> Million shall require the review and approval of the oversight committees before the modified <br /> contracts may be implemented. The contracts are generally effective for an initial period of three <br /> years, with two additional one-year options available at the decision of OGB. Additionally, La. <br /> R.S. 42:802.1 provides that in the event a health care provider domiciled in La. (and meeting other <br /> Page 1 of 5 (Docket No. 2020-058) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />
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