Exemption

Michigan Woman Awarded $12 Million After Losing Job Over Vaccine Exemption Refusal Based on Religious Beliefs

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Detroit, MI – A Detroit federal court jury awarded over $12 million to a former employee of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan on Friday, who was dismissed after she declined the COVID-19 vaccination on religious grounds. The substantial award includes $10 million in punitive damages. Lisa Domski, a longtime employee with over 30 years at Blue Cross, brought the case alleging religious discrimination when the company failed to honor her request for a vaccination exemption. Domski claimed her refusal to receive the vaccine was due to her Catholic beliefs, a position she maintained was … Read more

Texas’ Gold Card Experiment Stalls: Why Few Providers Win Exemption from Prior Authorizations

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Austin, Texas — To streamline the medical preauthorization process for physicians, several states, including Texas, have introduced “gold card” laws aimed at exempting commonly approved procedures or prescriptions from repetitive checks. However, the anticipated simplification has not unfolded as expected, and the laws often fall short of their promise. Under the 2021 Texas gold card law, a health insurer or health maintenance organization (HMO) is required to waive preauthorization if a provider has had a 90% or higher approval rate during a six-month evaluation. This exemption, designed to be automatic, should relieve some of the … Read more

$12 Million Verdict for Catholic Woman Fired Over COVID Vaccine Exemption Claim

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Detroit, MI — A federal jury recently ordered Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to pay $12 million to a former employee who claimed religious discrimination after being terminated for refusing a COVID-19 vaccination. The Catholic woman, who worked remotely, had sought a religious exemption, which the health insurance giant denied. The court’s decision underscores a significant confrontation between employer mandates and individual religious rights amidst the ongoing global health crisis. The jurors concurred that the dismissal constituted both religious discrimination and an illegal termination of employment. The case arrives at a contentious time when … Read more

Catholic IT Specialist Wins $12.7 Million in Groundbreaking COVID Vaccine Exemption Case

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Detroit, MI – In a significant legal decision, a Detroit jury has awarded Lisa Domski, a Catholic IT specialist from Wyandotte, over $12 million after she was dismissed by her employer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds. The verdict, rendered on Friday, highlights the ongoing tension between workplace health mandates and individual religious freedoms. Domski, who has been with BCBSM for 38 years, sought an exemption from the company’s vaccine mandate, citing her devout Catholic beliefs. Despite providing a detailed written statement and backing from her … Read more