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Cardinal O'Malley defends Caritas insurance venture

E-mail | Print | Comments () Posted by Gideon Gil March 5, 2009 06:16 PM

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Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley issued a statement this afternoon defending a proposed joint insurance venture between Caritas Christi Health Care and the Centene Corporation.

Caritas, a Catholic hospital network, and St. Louis-based Centene are seeking to offer state-subsidized health insurance to low-income residents through the state's Commonwealth Care program, but the plan has been criticized by anti-abortion groups because the venture, under state law, would be required to cover abortions and other family-planning services.

"I want to confirm for the Catholic community and the wider interested public that Caritas Christi Health Care has assured me that it will not be engaged in any procedures nor draw any benefits from any relationship which violate the Church's moral teaching," the cardinal's statement says.

Caritas and Centene issued a statement last week saying that it would contract with providers in and out of the Caritas network to ensure access to state-required services, "including confidential family planning services."

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About white coat notes

White Coat Notes covers the latest from the health care industry, hospitals, doctors offices, labs, insurers, and the corridors of government. Chelsea Conaboy previously covered health care for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Write her at cconaboy@boston.com. Follow her on Twitter: @cconaboy.

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