Mississippi News
Blue Cross, UMMC: No developments in dispute
<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>โThe 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 โno 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>โIt (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 โdesigned 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 โexcludedโ 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
SUMMARY: In Tupelo, Mississippi, 19-year-old Joshua James and a juvenile face charges related to a police pursuit and the theft 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 report 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.
For 24/7 news and updates, follow us onย Facebookย andย X.
The post Dollar General vehicle theft leads to two arrests in Tupelo appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Lowndes Co. Supervisors talk storm safety for certain areas
SUMMARY: The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors has secured funding to construct storm shelters in Crawford, Artesia, and Plum Grove, areas lacking local shelter during severe weather. Each community will receive four FEMA-funded shelters, accommodating up to 20 people each, on government property at a total cost of $103,692, with FEMA contributing $93,000. The supervisors anticipate these shelters will significantly enhance safety for residents 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 project is expected to proceed soon.
The post Lowndes Co. Supervisors talk storm safety for certain areas appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
News anchor dropped after social media post telling Trump-haters supporting Harris: ‘Stay home, donโt vote’
SUMMARY: David “Dave” Elliott, a local news anchor for WLOX in Biloxi for nearly 40 years, was fired after expressing political views on social media. He revealed on Facebook that his termination was due to his political opinions, specifically mentioning a video 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 manager about his dismissal was brief, and the topic of social media was raised. WLOX’s management declined to comment on the matter.
The post News anchor dropped after social media post telling Trump-haters supporting Harris: ‘Stay home, don’t vote’ appeared first on www.foxnews.com
-
Kaiser Health News7 days ago
Vance Wrongly Blames Rural Hospital Closures on Immigrants in the Country Illegally
-
News from the South - Georgia News Feed6 days ago
Co-defendant takes plea deal in YSL RICO trial | FOX 5 News
-
Mississippi News Video6 days ago
Free Clinic of Meridian Celebrates 10 Years
-
Our Mississippi Home7 days ago
A New Deep Sea Remotely Operated Vehicle Coming to USM
-
News from the South - Arkansas News Feed6 days ago
Buc-eeโs set to open second Arkansas location
-
News from the South - North Carolina News Feed6 days ago
FBI arrests NC man known as 'AK Guru' who is accused of selling hundreds of machine guns
-
News from the South - Alabama News Feed3 days ago
“There is a man here trying to use your ID” Suspect caught in Elberta using stolen ID at victims wor
-
News from the South - Texas News Feed3 days ago
Former HISD employees accused in teacher cheating scheme try to avoid cameras at first court hearing