Learn about Blue KC’s promise to create practice ethical professionalism.
We each should strive to maintain a professional environment that considers ethics and compliance an integral part of all of our business decisions.
Our success as businesspeople, and the success of Blue Cross and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and each of its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively and individually as appropriate in the context “Blue KC”), depends on our ability to build trusting relationships with our customers, suppliers, business partners, and regulators. For this reason, we always strive to conduct our business activities in an honest, open and fair manner. We each should strive to ensure that ethics and compliance concerns are not sacrificed in the pursuit and achievement of business or personal goals. Instead, ethics and compliance should be integrated into the day-to-day performance of our job functions.
We each have an obligation to perform our jobs in a manner that is consistent with this Code of Business Conduct (the “Code”). Because Blue KC’s success depends upon our individual and collective adherence to that goal, the ability of each of us to integrate the principles embodied in this Code into our everyday activities will be a factor considered in each of our annual performance evaluations, and in promotional decisions as well.
Of course, this Code is meaningful only if it creates a Blue KC-wide expectation of ethical behavior. For this reason, it is very important that each of us understands our obligations in the event that we are faced with an ethical or compliance dilemma. Therefore, Blue KC’s first step in creating an ethical professional environment is to give you the tools you need in order to make ethical decisions.
If you have a question about whether what you are about to do might violate the Code, you should first bring your concerns to the attention of Blue KC management -- discussing the issue with your supervisor or manager. If you still have questions about the propriety of your actions after discussing them with your supervisor, contact the Compliance Office and discuss your concerns. Keep in mind that while it is always best to try to resolve these concerns with your supervisor first, if for some reason you do not feel comfortable doing so, you can always contact the Compliance Office, and you may do so anonymously if you wish. For more information on this subject, please refer to the section at the end of this document addressing how to report compliance concerns.
Adherence to this Code is mandatory for all employees, officers, and directors. Anyone subject to this Code who violates any Standard of this Code will be subject to disciplinary action, which could range from a verbal reprimand for a minor violation up to and including termination for a more serious violation. If you are aware, or become aware, of a potential or actual violation of the Code, you must report it to Blue KC management or the Compliance Office as soon as possible. A failure to report a violation of the Code will also subject you to disciplinary action.