Chief executive of ND Blue Cross Blue Shield says federal health legislation has benefits

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BISMARCK (AP) — The president of North Dakota's largest health insurer says the company is focusing on how to make new federal health legislation work.

Paul von Ebers is the chief executive of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. Von Ebers spoke Wednesday to a legislative committee that is studying the impact of the new federal health care measure on North Dakota.

Von Ebers says the legislation will help thousands of people get insurance, and it has provisions for higher payments for doctors and hospitals that treat Medicare patients.

But von Ebers says he doesn't expect the measure to cut health insurance costs, and he's worried about the possibility that people will only sign up for health coverage when they're ill. He says that would drive up premium costs.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

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