PROVIDENCE – John C. Langenus has joined Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island as the newest member of its board of directors, the health insurer announced on June 5. more

Riding the coattails of the federal Affordable Care Act, Rhode Island lawmakers are considering major steps to eliminate “gender rating” in the state’s health-insurance industry. The practice, which has been called everything from “discriminatory” against women to “simply data-driven,” could be eradicated in the Ocean State by 2015, under a Senate-passed bill. more

Traditionally, employers focused on helping employees who were injured at work get back to work early with RTW. Recognizing the value of a healthy workforce, the commonalities of recovering from on and off the job injuries, the efficiencies of coordinating RTW efforts, and the greater risk exposure to discrimination claims when workers are treated differently depending on the reason for their absence, some employers are moving toward integrating occupational and non-occupational cases to reduce absences and lower claims costs. more

Gold has been the most talked-about investment and was the place to be for nearly 12 years. It moved from $250 per ounce to more than $1,900 per ounce while the stock market gyrated on its roller coaster ride. When investing in gold you could not go wrong. Then something happened. more

A workshop on Disaster Preparedness for Small Business will be held in Providence on May 30. The workshop will focus on developing an emergency plan that protects the business and employees and keeps the company functional during the rebuilding process. more

Despite efforts from government and industry to reduce health care spending, Rhode Island health insurers say the cost curve is bending in the wrong direction. more

R.I. Health Insurance Commissioner Christopher F. Koller says there’s enough unfinished business to keep him working right up until the last minute of his scheduled departure at the end of June. That’s when he’s set to begin his new job as president of the Milbank Memorial Fund in New York City. more

UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual of New England has been named the new title sponsor for the UnitedHealthcare Newport Marathon, taking over for Lincoln-based Amica Mutual Insurance Co., which held the title sponsorship position since 2009. more

Clients of FM Global, the Johnston-based commercial property insurer, will receive a collective $435 million in premium reductions as part of a record “membership credit” to policy holders. more

BOSTON – An auto-insurance company has agreed to pay more than $200,000 to settle allegations that it overcharged consumers by failing to reduce premiums as drivers gained additional years of driving experience, Attorney General Martha Coakley said. more