Sunday, March 15, 2015

Weidie Report: "Cancer of Disgrace"

The Weidie Report blasts the Mississippi Hospital Association for a "cancer of disgrace" that "spreads from Jackson County to the Capital City."  TWR is operated by Wayne Weidie.  Mr. Weidie was once a journalist and served as a chief of staff for then-Congressman Gene Taylor.  Mr. Weidie starts out by teeing off on the Singing River Fiasco:

But on late Tuesday evening the Mississippi House of Representatives, at least for the time being, got its act together as it relates to publicly owned hospitals throughout the state. State Sen. Brice Wiggins of Pascagoula spearhead his legislation, SB 2407, through unanimous passage in the Mississippi Senate. SB 2407 removed the open meetings and public records exemption for all county-owned hospitals in the state. Then the Mississippi Hospital Association went to work. 
 MHA is an extremely powerful force in state politics. However, that is not the same thing as being a force for good for the citizens of Mississippi. After Wiggins’ bill passed the Senate it was sent to the House Public Health Committee. That’s when MHA and the University of Mississippi Medical Center pulled their strings. When SB 2407 came out of the committee it was gutted and only applied to the Singing River Health System. While things looked bleak, fortunately State Rep. Charles Busby, also of Pascagoula, stepped up to the plate. A Busby amendment restored the teeth of Wiggins’ bill and applied the exemption removals to all county-owned hospitals, not just Singing River. .....
Mr. Weidie provided more information about this fight and Singing River that is particularly interesting and worth reading.  He then focused his attention solely on MHA:

Even more incredible is the income reported by the Mississippi Hospital Association. According to GuideStar, IRS Form 990 for MHA shows that the association had more than $10 million in revenue in their most recent filing that is listed on the GuideStar website. GuideStar provides information on more than 1.8 million tax exempt non-profits. How can any trade association in Mississippi have revenues of $10 million? Over $7 million of that figure is from member dues and assessments. Yes, MHA is in the healthcare insurance business, Healthcare Providers Insurance Company, but HPIC is a separate for-profit entity and those revenues are not part of the $10 million. If the legislation is approved to remove the open meetings and public records exemption for county-owned hospitals, one of the first things citizens should demand is to see how much in dues and assessment those hospitals, especially Singing River, are paying to MHA.  Rest of post. 

MHA is the main provider of medical malpractice insurance in Mississippi.  It earns over $10 million per year in insurance premiums.  The most recent annual report is posted below.  The report states that technically the company is located in South Carolina but it is owned by the MHA.  The vast majority of its premiums come from Mississippi. 

Kingfish note: The tax returns state then-CEO Sam Cameron earned $1.7 million in compensation in 2012.  However, the CFO told the Sun-Herald that over a million dollars was "cashing out" (my words) of Cameron's retirement accounts and compensation.  Cameron's compensation was between $400,000 and $500,000 per year during the previous years. 

Earlier post with copy of MHA's most recent tax return.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lucky for Cameron his retirement wasn't looted! The butthurt he would have had if that $1.3 mill of deferred compensation had been LOOTED would have been priceless.

But some people know just what to watch out for.

Anonymous said...

Why is the legislature subsidizing rural hospitals when MHA has this kind of money? I thought republicans were running things in Jackson--- sure doesn't seem like it.

Anonymous said...

4:45, I have no idea what planet you live on but rural hospitals aren't subsidized, they're all struggling to stay open!!

Anonymous said...

At 5:05 --- how about HB 114 drafted by MHA... http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2015/html/HB/0100-0199/HB0114IN.htm

Anonymous said...

ACA made hospitals be more accountable especially in the area of re-admissions. Patients have better treatment plans that they understand and have to sign off on prior to discharge. Hospitals have seen profits dip because they are not getting as much business. Out patient clinics are doing more work hospitals used to do. If the rehab, testing, minor procedures clinics, and doctors office buildings are not owned by hospitals they are losing revenue.

Anonymous said...

If Weidie is writing about the disgraces going on in Jackson County he should mention Michael Watson.

Anonymous said...

@9:19 Yaaaasssssss!!! Watson has some fishy ish going on



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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