Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 27, 1993                   TAG: 9304270114
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IN BUSINESS

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia said Monday it has been removed from the credit-watch list of Standard & Poor's Ratings Group. The Richmond-based health insurance company also has received a reaffirmed AA-minus rating from S&P, the fourth-strongest of 22 categories.

The Virginia company was placed on S&P's watch list last fall after it signed a letter of intent to affiliate with Group Hospitalization and Medical Services Inc., parent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area. The Virginia Blues' offer wasn't accepted. It expired March 30. - Staff report