Blue Cross marks 10 years since tobacco settlement

By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: May 7, 2008 - 8:46 AM

Ten years ago this week, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota became the first private insurance company to score a legal victory against the tobacco industry.

Blue Cross will mark that anniversary by hosting a daylong Prevention Minnesota conference Thursday at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest in Minnetonka.

Conference participants will learn effective prevention strategies, and meet with health, business and policy leaders.

The gathering's keynote speaker is Dan Buettner, the global adventurer from the Twin Cities. He'll discuss the connection between healthy living and a long life.

For more on the conference, visit www.bluecrossmn.com/preventionminnesota.

On May 8, 1998, Blue Cross and the State of Minnesota agreed to settlement terms with the tobacco industry, ending a four-month trial that focused on the industry's tactics in marketing, advertising and research. In addition to Blue Cross' monetary award of $469 million and the state's award of $6.1 billion, the settlement required tobacco companies to stop a number of practices in Minnesota. The restrictions were adopted by 46 other states in a subsequent group settlement.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482