Manuscript Group 1227, Blue Shield of New Jersey Records, 1940 – 1988

 

Archives Documents, Manuscripts, Maps, & Photographs

 

MG 1227

Blue Shield of New Jersey

Records, 1940 – 1988

6.5 linear ft.

“Medical-Surgical Plan of New Jersey
was founded in 1942 by The Medical Society of New Jersey, whose
objective was ‘to make available to every man, woman and
child in New Jersey adequate personal and sympathetic medical
care, preventive and curative, at the lowest cost compatible with
efficient service.’ A succession of committees from the
Medical Society, starting in 1938, worked over a period of
several years on setting up the operational structure of the
Plan, drafting special enabling legislation, and securing
cooperation of Hospital Service Plan.  Funds to actually put
the Plan in operation were advanced by the Medical
Society…Keystone in the Plan’s structure is the support
given by the medical profession through the Participating
Physicians, who represent more than 80 per cent of all eligible
physicians in NJ”

“Medical-Surgical Plan is a nonprofit
service corporation, organized under provisions of the law
respecting ‘Corporations and Associations not for
Profit.’ It transacts business under an ‘Enabling Act
for Medical Service Corporations’ which is part of the
revised statutes of N.J.”

A majority of the Trustees must be members
of The MSNJ.

“The subscription contract provides for
Medical, Surgical and Obstetrical services and incidental
anesthesia and consultation services.

Prior to merger: “There is no corporate
relationship between MSP and HSP. Each is a separate corporation.
By contract between the two organizations the HSP solicits and
enrolls MSP subscribers, does the billing, collecting and general
accounting for MSP. MSP maintains its own office for the
processing and medical evaluation of claims, for handling
relationships with physicians, and for public relations, apart
from enrollment matters.”

Founders: Dr. Edward W. Sprague, Dr. Elton
W. Lance, John S. Thompson.

Medical Service Administration, a nonprofit
corporation which preceded Blue Shield, whose current corporate
name is MSP of NJ.  “The MSA board accomplished the
passage of an enabling act in 1940, the approval of the Plan by
the Medical Society, and the contribution by the Society of the
$5,000 to enable the establishment of Blue Shield, and to qualify
with the Department of Banking and Insurance.”

Medical-Surgical Plan of New Jersey
incorporated in 1942 “to establish, maintain and operate
non-profit medical and surgical service plans whereby the expense
of medical and surgical services to subscribers and other covered
dependents is paid by the service plan to participating
physicians and other physicians…

Hospital Service Plan of New Jersey (New
Jersey Blue Cross)…is organized and operating as a
non-profit organization for the purpose of providing payment for
hospitalization of its subscribers and enrolled
dependents…MSP is organized and operating as a non-profit
organization for the purpose of providing payment for medical,
surgical and obstetrical services rendered to its subscribers and
enrolled dependents…

(1955)

Merger January 1986

Blue Cross began 1932

Blue Shield, the companion plan to Blue
Cross, …are entirely separate corporations but cooperate in
providing a package of health protection…Blue Cross for
hospital bills, Blue Shield for doctor bills.

In 1939, the first blue shield type plan was
established in California

1971 called MSP on its annual report/1972
Blue Shield

Subject: conflicts of interest, dependent
coverage, physicians’ fees, rates

Historical summaries, informational
booklets, forms, position papers, congressional reprints
concerning hearings and bills, press releases, photographs,
annual reports and other reports to the Medical Society of New
Jersey,

files regarding the merger of Blue Cross and
Blue Shield: re negotiation process, memos to Board of Trustees,
meeting agendas, memorandums of understanding, plans of merger,
resolutions, state legislative acts, letters, financial
statements, newspaper clippings, drafts and working copies of the
proposed plan of merger, court briefs, certificate of merger,
meeting summaries, press releases, minutes

General Files include position papers,
speeches, legislative materials,

Chronological files run in reverse chron
order. Lots of info about merger, minutes of Blue Shield Board of
Trustees, press releases, looks like chron files of Joseph A.
Cox, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Blue Shield, legal
documents, reports, studies, correspondence, Board meeting
materials

2 Blues News (both)

Certificates of Incorporation, By-Laws &
Agreements

Reports

General Subject Files

Merger Files

Speeches/Papers

Printed Materials

Chronological Files

Use of collection is restricted.

HSP = Hospital Service Plan of New
Jersey=Blue Cross

MSP= Medical-Surgical Plan of New
Jersey=Blue Shield

MSP or Blue Shield unless otherwise noted

 

MG
1227

Container
List

 

Box
Folder
Title
Dates

 

Certificates of Incorporation, By-laws & Agreements:

1
1        Certificates of
Incorporation of MSP
1942, 1944, 1983 with
Amendments (1 HSP)

2        Resolution to Amend
By-Laws of Medical n.d.

Service Administration of N.J.

3        Joint Operating
Agreement: HSP &
1955, 1958 M.S.P.

4        Agreement between
N.J. Dental Service Plan
1970, 1974 Inc. & HSP/MSP

5        Agreement between
HSP/MSP and Local 32 1982

Office of Professional Employees

International Union A.F.L.-C.I.O.

6        Participating Physicians Agreement
1983-84

Reports:

7        Annual Reports: MSP
1950, 1958-61

8
“
1962, 1964-67

9
“
1968-72

10
“
1977-79

11      Supplemental Reports to the
Medical Society        1948,
1966 of New Jersey

12      Financial & Enrollment Data,
1944-82 1984

13      Financial Statements: MSP
1983-84

 

General Subject Files:

14      Basis of Rates of Medical
Service Plan 1940-41

15      Board of Trustees: Proceedings
of MSP Board of 1960 Trustees
and MSNJ Board of Trustees

16      Board of Trustees: Blue Shield of NJ 1983

17      Conference on Medical Welfare in NJ, 1952 Proceedings

18      Conflicts of Interest on Blue
Shield Boards 1978 of Directors: U.S. House of Representatives

Committee on  Foreign Commerce, Subcommittee on

Oversight and Investigations Report

19      Dependent Children Coverage
1979, 1982

20      History and Background
1966, 1973 & n.d.

21      Medical Director’s Letter
to Participating 1950-51

Physicians

22      Medical Service Administration of N.J. 1950

General Subject Files:

2        1
Miscellaneous
1974, 1988 & n.d.

2        News Releases 1963-83 w/gaps

3        Paperless Claims Processing 1982

4        Photographs ca. 1950s-60s

5        Physicians’ Fees 1960

6        Public Hearing #4 to Investigate the Nov. 16, 1960

Administration of the Hospital Service Plan

of NJ/N.J. Legislative Commission

7        Public Hearing #5 to Investigate the Dec. 8, 1960

Administration of the Hospital Service Plan

of NJ/N.J. Legislative Commission

8       Public Hearing #6 to Investigate the Dec. 22, 1960

Administration of the Hospital Service Plan

of NJ/N.J. Legislative Commission

9        Radiologists,
Coverage of Services of 1980

10      Rate Hearing Materials 1970

11      Riders for Subscribers’ Contracts 1961

12      Subscription Contract Announcement 1956

13      Surgical Assistants Services:
Civil Action Brief       1980

Superior Court of N.J., Appellate Div.

Speeches/Papers:

14      “Evolution of Medical Care
Plans in N.J.”
n.d.

15      “Eyes Right at the
Crossroads…An Objective       1958

Appraisal of the Voluntary Health Insurance Movement”

 

16
“General Information Concerning MSP of NJ” 1951

 

17
“An Historical Review of the Relationships ca. 1954

Between the Medical Society of N.J.,

Medical Service Administration of N.J. & MSP of NJ”

18      “The Non-Group Subscriber
– A Blue Shield        1951

Problem

 

19
“Observations and Impressions re: Medical-1952

 

Surgical Plan” Annual Meeting of the Medical Society of NJ

20      “Operation Bootstrap”
– How MSP Functioned 1963 in Strike Crisis

21      “Proposals of the Medical Society of N.J. for a 1950

National Health and Medical Care Program”

22      “Public Health in New
Jersey: Current Issues in     1984

Historical Perspective”

Blue Cross Blue Shield Merger Files:

 

23
“
1976, 1982

24
“   : Blue Cross Blue Shield Committee 1983

Task Force

25
“
Feb. 22, 1984

26
“   : Memorandum of Agreement
Mar. 6, 1984

Blue Cross Blue Shield Merger Files:

3        1
“   : N.J. State Legislative Act
Oct. 1984

2
“   :
“
Oct. 1984

3
“   : N.J. Assembly Health Care Bill
Nov. 1984

and Hearing Summary

4
“
Dec. 1984

5
“
Jan. 1985

6
“
Feb. 1985

7
“
Mar. 1985

8
“
Apr. 1-15, 1985

9
“
Apr. 17-30, 1985

10
“
May 1985

11
“
June 24, 1985

12
“
June 1985

13
“
July 2-11, 1985

14
“
July 16-24, 1985

15
“
Aug. 1985

16
“   : Financial Statements Sept. 1985

Blue Cross Blue Shield Merger Files:

4        1
“
Oct. 1985

2
“
Nov. 1985

3
“
Dec. 1985

4
“
Dec. 1985

5
“
Jan. 1-8, 1986

6
“
Jan. 9-29, 1986

7
“   : Notification & Report Form for
Jan. 13, 1986

Certain Mergers & Acquisitions

Blue Cross Blue Shield Merger Files:

 

5
1
“   : Notification & Report Form for
Jan. 14, 1986

Certain Mergers & Acquisitions

2
“   : Certificate of Change of Corporate Jan. 29, 1986

Name

3
“   : Certificates of Merger Feb. 4, 1986

4
“
1988 & n.d.

Printed Materials:

5        The Story of Blue Cross and Blue Shield 1969

6        The New Jersey
Blue Cross Story
& The Story
ca. 1968, ca. 1972 of The Hospital Service Plan of New Jersey

7        The Story of Blue Shield 1954

8        Blue Shield Pulse
1962-66

9        The 2 Blues News
1963-68

10      Two Blues News
1968-79

11      Little Blue Notes

1977-78

12      Blue Notes
1981-85

13      Labor News
1984-85

14      Subscription Certificate Forms
1973-83

Blue Cross Blue Shield Merger Files:

 

6
1        Schedule of Payments
1978, 1982

2        Who’s Blue:
The Blue Shield Book of Preferred     
1985

Physicians and Providers (and Dentists)

3        Medical Surgical Plan
of N.J.: Participating
1942

Physicians

4        Booklets
1973-84

 

Chronological Files:

5
“        (Folder 1 of 2)
Jan. 1986

6
“        (Folder 2 of 2)
Jan. 1986

7
“
Dec. 1985

 

7        1
Chronological Files
Nov. 1985

2
“
(Folder 1 of 2)
Oct. 1985

3
“
(Folder 2 of 2)
Oct. 1985

4
“
Sep. 1985

5
“
Aug. 1985

6
“
(Folder 1 of 3)
July 1985

7
“
(Folder 2 of 3)
July 1985

8
“
(Folder 3 of 3)
July 1985

8        1
Chronological Files    (Folder 1 of 2)
June 1985

2
“
(Folder 2 of 2)
June 1985

3
“
May 1985

4
“
(Folder 1 of 4)
Apr. 1985

5
“
(Folder 2 of 4)
Apr. 1985

6
“
(Folder 3 of 4)
Apr. 1985

7
“
(Folder 4 of 4)
Apr. 1985

9        1
Chronological Files    (Folder 1 of 3)
Mar. 1985

2
“
(Folder 2 of 3)
Mar. 1985

3
“
(Folder 3 of 3)
Mar. 1985

4
“
(Folder 1 of 2)
Feb. 1985

5
“
(Folder 2 of 2)
Feb. 1985

6
“
(Folder 1 of 2)
Jan. 1985

7
“
(Folder 2 of 2)
Jan. 1985

8
“
Dec. 1984

9
“
(Folder 1 of 2)
Nov. 1984

10
“
(Folder 2 of 2)
Nov. 1984

10      1
Chronological Files
Oct. 1984

2
“
Sep. 1984

3
“
Aug. 1984

4
“
(Folder 1 of 2)
July 1984

5
“
(Folder 2 of 2)
July 1984

6
“
June 1984

7
“
(Folder 1 of 2)
May 1984

8
“
(Folder 2 of 2)

May 1984

9
”
(Folder 1 of 2)
Apr. 1984

11      1
Chronological Files    (Folder 2 of 2)
Apr. 1984

2
“
(Folder 1 of 3)
Mar. 1984

3
“
(Folder 2 of 3)

Mar. 1984

4
“
(Folder 3 of 3)
Mar. 1984

5
“
(Folder 1 of 2)
Feb. 1984

6
“
(Folder 2 of 2)
Feb. 1984

7
“
(Folder 1 of 2)
Jan. 1984

8
“
(Folder 2 of 2)
Jan. 1984

12      1
Chronological Files    (Folder 1 of 2)
Dec. 1983

2
“
(Folder 2 of 2)

Dec. 1983

3
“
(Folder 1 of 3)
Nov. 1983

4
“
(Folder 2 of 3)

Nov. 1983

5
“
(Folder 3 of 3)
Nov. 1983

6
“
(Folder 1 of 4)

Oct. 1983

7
“
(Folder 2 of 4)
Oct. 1983

8
“
(Folder 3 of 4)

Oct. 1983

13      1
Chronological Files    (Folder 4 of 4)
Oct. 1983

2
“
(Folder 1 of 3)

Sep. 1983

3
“
(Folder 2 of 3 )
Sep. 1983

4
“
(Folder 3 of 3)
Sep. 1983

5
“
Aug. 1983

6
“
July 1983

7
“
May-June, 1983

8
“
Apr.-May, 1983

9
“
Jan.-Feb. 1983
Names:

Hazel Frank Gluck,
Commissioner, State of New Jersey Department of Insurance

Joseph A. Cox, M.D.
, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Blue

Shield of New Jersey

Medical Service
Administration of New Jersey

Medical Society of
New Jersey

Hospital Service
Plan of New Jersey=Blue Cross

Medical-Surgical
Plan of New Jersey=Blue Shield

Blue Shield

Blue Cross

State of New Jersey Department of Insurance

Dr. Nicholas F. Alfano, Medical Director and Executive VP, NJ Blue Shield

 

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