Mississippi News
Blue Cross, UMMC resolution moving at a ‘snail’s pace,’ Mike Chaney says
Blue Cross, UMMC resolution moving at a ‘snail's pace,' insurance commissioner says
A resolution to the dispute between the state's largest insurer and hospital is off to a slow start.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney said mediation between Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi and the University of Mississippi Medical Center has begun but is moving at a “snail's pace” so far.
“Some preliminary groundwork has been set,” he said. “… I expect by Monday of next week, it'll ramp up to full steam.”
While Chaney does not have authority to force the two parties to agree, he made a pointed statement: “I do have the authority to make them mediate. If either party tries to forestall or hinder mediation, they run the risk of damaging the University (of Mississippi) Medical Center possibly beyond repair. And they run the risk of damaging the health insurance side.”
Marc Rolph, Executive Director of Communications and Marketing at UMMC, told Mississippi Today that actual mediation will begin next week.
Blue Cross officials said they could not comment on mediation because it was confidential.
Meanwhile, patients are still in the lurch. Frank Dungan of Madison is on the transplant list for a liver at UMMC. But because the hospital is out of network with his insurer, he has been marked “inactive” on the list.
In mid-May, Chaney asked both Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi and the University of Mississippi Medical Center to provide a cost estimate for what a liver transplant would cost Dungan while the hospital is out of network with his insurer.
Despite the insurance company directing him to go out of state and enroll in another transplant program. Dungan said he asked for his doctor to refer him to one of those transplant programs out of state, but the program never responded.
Dungan wants to stay at UMMC, where he has years-long relationships with his doctors. He wanted to know what it would cost him to stay there and get the procedure – but he was having no luck getting any numbers from either UMMC or Blue Cross.
After Chaney sent the letter, UMMC provided a cost estimate for the surgery to Dungan and Chaney, and representatives for Blue Cross provided an amount to Chaney. Both asked Dungan to keep the numbers confidential, he said, but he would have had to pay a significant amount to make up the difference in what the insurance company was willing to pay and what UMMC would charge.
There were further conversations between the two, Dungan said, but he never received anything in writing. He's also been unable to get any cost estimates of what the immunosuppressants post-surgery would cost.
Two weeks after the communication from Blue Cross and UMMC, he's dealing with additional medical problems.
Dungan's knees locked up and began swelling. He couldn't walk, which led him to the emergency room and later received injections of steroids. Now, he's trying to figure out whether he'll need surgery before he's able to get a transplant.
He also discovered he again has an esophageal condition caused directly by his liver disease. The condition requires a procedure.
He's frustrated that he's having to see a provider outside of UMMC for his issues.
“It makes it more difficult, it makes it more complex for me to schedule and keep up with my health care appointments,” he said. “I'm sure they're doing the best they can to communicate, but it's two different systems.”
Chaney's office is continuing to hear from Mississippians with questions about the dispute – including those who receive care that can only be found at UMMC – and what it means for their medical care.
Chaney said he is trying to work with individuals on a case-by-case basis, particularly those who use Children's of Mississippi or who are on the organ transplant list.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
George Robinson’s family rejects Jackson’s settlement offer
SUMMARY: Attorneys for George Robinson's sister reject the City of Jackson's settlement offer of $17,000. Robinson died two days after a police encounter involving former officer Anthony Fox in 2019. Wade filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming her brother was killed by the officer. Fox was initially convicted in Robinson's death but the Mississippi Court of Appeals reversed the conviction due to insufficient evidence in January 2024. In August 2022, Fox was sentenced to five years in prison for culpable negligence manslaughter. He returned to work for the City of Clinton as a K9 narcotics detective.
The post George Robinson's family rejects Jackson's settlement offer appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Alabama OF TJ McCants returns to Ole Miss this weekend
SUMMARY: Three years ago, TJ McCants hit a game-tying grand slam for Ole Miss against LSU, leading the Rebels to a 10-9 victory after overcoming an eight-run deficit. McCants transferred to Alabama where he has had a successful season with a .330 batting average, 13 home runs, and 42 RBIs. He will make his return to Oxford this weekend as Alabama faces Ole Miss, where he was a key player for the 2022 national title-winning team. McCants also homered in the championship series against Oklahoma. This weekend is expected to be emotional for both McCants and the Rebels' fanbase in Oxford.
The post Alabama OF TJ McCants returns to Ole Miss this weekend appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
New retail space coming to Gluckstadt
SUMMARY: Madison County residents will soon have new shopping options with the completion of Phase 1 of a development project for a retail town center in Germantown Village, Gluckstadt. Phase 2 will include new restaurants, hotels, a movie theater, and more, with potential tenants already being sought. The project aims to bring revenue and convenience to the area, with modern and attractive building designs to attract customers. The team hopes to finish the project by early 2026, providing a range of flexible spaces to accommodate various businesses. Residents like Pam Morris are excited for the revenue and convenience the new development will bring.
The post New retail space coming to Gluckstadt appeared first on www.wjtv.com
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