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Mississippi News

Blue Cross, UMMC: No developments in dispute

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<h1>Nearly four months in, still no developments in mediation between UMMC and Blue Cross</h1>
<p class=”byline”>by Will Stribling, Mississippi Today <br>September 20, 2022</p>

<p>The contract dispute between the state’s largest insurer and hospital is still not resolved more than three months afterย the two parties began mediation proceedings.</p>
<p>Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi and University of Mississippi Medical Center have been locked in a <a href=”https://mississippitoday.org/2022/03/09/contract-dispute-mississippi-medical-center-blue-cross/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>dispute</a> over reimbursement rates throughout 2022. The Medical Center <a href=”https://mississippitoday.org/2022/04/01/ummc-goes-out-of-network-with-blue-cross-blue-shield/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>went out of network</a> with Blue Cross on March 31, and since then, thousands of Mississippians have been forced to take on <a href=”https://mississippitoday.org/2022/06/30/blue-cross-ummc-dispute-breaking-point/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>higher out-of-pocket costs</a> for their health care or <a href=”https://mississippitoday.org/2022/08/17/mississippian-gets-new-liver-after-insurance-dispute-forced-him-to-get-care-out-of-state/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>leave the state</a> for certain specialty care.</p>
<p>The two parties agreed to utilize a mediation process to settle the dispute in April after Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney urged them to do so.ย </p>
<p>โ€œThe commissioner (Mike Chaney) is certainly very hopeful that the parties can make great progress, if not find a resolution, by early June,โ€ Mark Haire, deputy commissioner of insurance, told Mississippi Today in early May.</p>
<p>Evidently, that hope was misplaced. </p>
<p>Patrice Guilfoyle, director of communications at UMMC, told Mississippi Today on Tuesday that there’s โ€œno update at this pointโ€ on mediation proceedings. Blue Cross did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.ย </p>
<p>Chaney told Mississippi Today he has not had any contact with either party or the mediator relating to mediation since before Sept. 5. Under<a href=”https://www.sos.ms.gov/adminsearch/ACCode/00000306c.pdf” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”> state agency rules</a>, Chaney is not allowed to directly mediate or help settle disputes over contacts between insurance companies and health care providers.ย </p>
<p>There is no requirement the two parties come to an agreement.</p>
<p>A <a href=”https://mississippitoday.org/2022/07/01/chaney-announces-blue-cross-review/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>targeted market conduct examination</a> of Blue Cross that Chaney ordered on July 1 is ongoing. The examination is to determine whether the insurer is in compliance with the state’s network adequacy regulations since UMMC provides specialty care that cannot be found elsewhere in Mississippi.</p>
<p>Chaney told Mississippi Today on Tuesday that the network adequacy review is nearly complete but cannot be finished until UMMC provides his office with materials that have been subpoenaed.</p>
<p>โ€œIt (the network adequacy review) will probably be surprising to a lot of folks,โ€ Chaney said.</p>
<p>Blue Cross <a href=”https://mississippitoday.org/2022/07/28/blue-cross-sues-top-ummc-officials-over-pr-campaign/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>sued</a> top UMMC employees on July 28 over the public relations campaign the hospital has been waging against the insurer due to their contract dispute. The insurer claims the campaign was โ€œdesigned to disseminate false and defamatory statements about Blue Cross to the public.โ€ </p>
<p>In advertisements and public statements made by employees, the claim was made that the insurer โ€œexcludedโ€ UMMC from its network of providers, though it was UMMC who voluntarily allowed its contract with Blue Cross to expire.ย </p>
<p>It is unclear how that lawsuit has impacted the progress of mediation proceedings.ย </p>

<p>This <a target=”_blank” href=”https://mississippitoday.org/2022/09/20/no-developments-in-mediation-ummc-and-blue-cross/”>article</a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https://mississippitoday.org”>Mississippi Today</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src=”https://i0.wp.com/mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/MT_square-thumb.jpg?fit=150%2C150&ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”><img id=”republication-tracker-tool-source” src=”https://mississippitoday.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=1082095&ga=UA-75003810-1″ style=”width:1px;height:1px;”></p>

Mississippi News

Dollar General vehicle theft leads to two arrests in Tupelo

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www.wcbi.com – Aundrea Self – 2024-11-04 16:10:00

SUMMARY: In , Mississippi, 19-year-old Joshua James and a juvenile face charges related to a pursuit and the of a police car. James is charged with Directing a Felony to Be Committed by a Person Under Seventeen, Grand Larceny, and Felony Fleeing, with a bond set at $100,000. The incident began on November 1 when police responded to a of a stolen vehicle. After a chase that ended when the stolen truck crashed south of Verona, James was apprehended, while his juvenile passenger fled in a police car, which was later found wrecked. The juvenile’s case will be handled in Youth Court.

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Categories: Crime, Local News


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Mississippi News

Lowndes Co. Supervisors talk storm safety for certain areas

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www.wcbi.com – Marcus Hunter – 2024-11-04 15:59:00

SUMMARY: The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors has secured to construct storm shelters in Crawford, Artesia, and Plum Grove, lacking local shelter during severe weather. Each community will four FEMA-funded shelters, accommodating up to 20 people each, on property at a total cost of $103,692, with FEMA contributing $93,000. The supervisors anticipate these shelters will significantly enhance safety for during storms. Vice President Jeff Smith highlighted their importance, expressing relief for community members who have long awaited a secure refuge. While installation timelines remain unclear, the is expected to proceed soon.

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Mississippi News

News anchor dropped after social media post telling Trump-haters supporting Harris: ‘Stay home, donโ€™t vote’

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www.foxnews.com – – 2024-11-04 11:51:00

SUMMARY: David “Dave” Elliott, a anchor for in for nearly 40 years, was fired after expressing political views on social . He revealed on Facebook that his termination was due to his political opinions, specifically mentioning a where he advised people not to vote out of hatred for Donald Trump. Elliott characterized his social media posts as satire, distinguishing them from his professional work. He noted that the discussion with his station’s general about his dismissal was brief, and the topic of social media was raised. WLOX’s management declined to comment on the matter.

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