_____________________________________________ Lou
Patalano | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
The goal is straightforward: create entry points into in-house legal careers.“ A lot of corporations hire experienced attorneys. They don’ t give young lawyers the opportunity. I’ m helping young lawyers in their career development, giving them opportunities that they might not otherwise get.” Several participants have already moved into judicial clerkships and corporate legal positions.
“ Giving back and mentoring others, just as people have mentored me, is about helping folks move forward in their careers. Seeing people prosper and knowing I played a small part means a lot,” he notes.
Lou’ s investment in people shapes how he thinks about the healthcare industry broadly – not just the lawyers he mentors, but the members Louisiana Blue serves. Lou has seen firsthand novel litigation that misapplies or misuses legal theories in an attempt to impose non-contractual obligations on health insurers. These are the types of cases that lead to excessive and unpredictable liabilities and higher premiums for everyone. Industry conversations often focus on disagreements between insurers, providers, pharmaceutical companies, and policymakers.“ If we could just get different stakeholders to collaborate, we’ d stop pointing fingers at each other and look inward. If insurance, providers, pharmaceutical companies, and PBMs all sat at the table and worked together, instead of just serving their own interests, we could really start bending the cost curve and improve health.”
The real challenge, as Lou sees it, isn’ t figuring out what needs to happen. It’ s building enough alignment to get it done. Behind every regulatory debate, premium hike, lawsuit, or policy decision are real people.“ At the end of the day, we call them members, providers call them patients, but it’ s all one human being.” It is not an abstract concept. It’ s the reason he believes legal strategy must be anchored in what’ s actually good for the industry, not just what’ s advantageous in the moment.
Giving back and mentoring others, just as people have mentored me, is about helping folks move forward in their careers
For all the complexity of his role, Lou’ s definition of success remains grounded elsewhere.“ If you were asking me what my biggest success is, I’ d tell you I’ ve got two great kids, both in college, of whom I am extremely proud.” He travelled with his son Will to see the France- Morocco World Cup match in Boston and the Taylor Swift Eras Tour in Los Angeles; memories he was determined not to miss. With his daughter Ali, a theatre enthusiast and emerging artist, that often means trips to Broadway to see shows like Hamilton and The Phantom of the Opera.
The connection between family and philanthropy is evident in the causes he supports. Alongside his commitment to women’ s athletics at the University of North Carolina, including its Women’ s Basketball and Gymnastics programs, Lou serves on the Boards of the National Judicial College and UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Foundation and is involved with arts initiatives including the Miranda Family Fellows Program.
Whether mentoring young lawyers through Louisiana Blue’ s Pipeline Program, supporting students and student-athletes, or creating memories with his children, the thread is consistent. For Lou, success is no longer defined by where his own career goes next, but by the opportunities, experiences, and support he can provide for others. ■ modern-counsel. com 77