Learn about the commitment Blue KC has made to compete ethically.
We must avoid engaging in anti-competitive activities or unfair trade practices.
A sincere commitment to ethical professionalism requires us to conduct our business in a manner that helps maintain a free and competitive market for our goods and services. Activities that would artificially restrain a competitive market are contrary to that philosophy and to federal laws against anti-competitive activities. Accordingly, we must avoid engaging in activity that could be considered to violate those laws.
Such activities include, but are not limited to, discussing pricing or supplier relationships with a competitor, agreements to allocate the market for our goods and services among ourselves and our competitors, and agreements among competitors to refuse to deal with particular suppliers or vendors. We especially must be vigilant when attending gatherings such as trade association meetings that we do not get drawn into discussions of inappropriate topics, such as discussions concerning pricing, labor costs, marketing plans, and the like. If you find yourself in such a situation, immediately end the conversation, and if appropriate, ask that your refusal to participate be documented in the meeting minutes. You should report any such incident to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City’s (Blue KC) Compliance Office and Legal Services Division immediately.
In addition, we must ensure that all information we obtain about our competitors is done in compliance with the law and the Standards set forth in the Code. We must not solicit or obtain confidential information about a competitor in a manner that would be illegal or would require a person to violate a contractual agreement, such as a confidentiality agreement with a prior employer.
Finally, we also must ensure that all information we provide to our customers and the community at large about our products and services is truthful and accurate, and does not contain misleading or deceptive information. No employee, officer or director shall take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material factors or any other unfair-dealing practice.