Barr v. Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Inc.

Tom Glaze, Justice.

This case involves a claim dispute under the Federal Employees Health Benefit Act (FEHBA) embodied in 5 U.S.C.A. §§ 8901-8914 (West 1967 & Supp. 1988). Appellant James G. Barr, a retired Federal employee, paid into the Federal Employees Benefit Plan offered through the appellee, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Under FEHBA, the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) enters into contracts with private carriers, in this case the appellee, that will administer the Federal Benefit plan. OPM promulgated regulation 5 C.F.R. § 890.105 (1986) which sets forth a…