JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Leaders with the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) announced Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is expected to force UMMC hospitals, clinics, physicians and other providers out of its commercial insurance network by April 1, 2022.
According to UMMC, the insurance giant has refused to agree to a new contract. The State and School Employees’ Health Plan, which is managed by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, is not a part of this contract.
“Blue Cross wants to compare us to other Mississippi hospitals, but there are no hospitals in the state that are like us. Every day we treat patients across Mississippi, many with nowhere else to turn, because they need the specialty physicians found only here at UMMC. We should be compared to other academic medical centers and safety net hospitals just like us,” said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.
UMMC has requested a rate increase “that moves us closer to – not equal to or more than – market rates,” said Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs. “It is essential that UMMC be paid in line with comparable academic medical centers in regional cities like New Orleans, Memphis and Birmingham.”
UMMC officials said a dedicated phone line has been established at 601-496-0008 for anyone who has a Blue Cross commercial health plan and has questions about the negotiations.
Blue Cross released a statement to WJTV 12 News about the issue.
“Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is committed to ensuring safe, high-quality care is provided to our Members. To that end, we have worked with hospitals and physicians to measure hospital performance in key clinical areas such as heart attack, pregnancy, patient safety and preventing readmissions,” said Dr. Lee Greer, Corporate Medical Director. “To date, UMMC has been unwilling to participate in the quality program that has shown success in improving care for Members in the other Network hospitals in our state. Given UMMC’s performance on publically reported clinical outcomes, it is important that the discussion focuses on not only reimbursement, but the quality of care that is being provided for common conditions treated by UMMC and all other hospitals across the state.”
Blue Cross officials said if UMMC decides to become non-network April 1, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi will continue to provide network benefits.