Jackson Jambalaya

Chaney's office and staff are the REAL deal. Back in March of 2020 they got me out of a jam with a "non network" ER visit that resulted in an attempt by a Physician to "Balance Bill" me several thousands of dollars. A couple of phone calls, a couple of emails, they shut that Physician's collection agency down on their attempt to illegally collect from me.

If you as a consumer are unaware of the Mississippi "Balance Billing" laws, you need to do your homework and get Chaney's office involved. That one State Agency is a true gem.

Insurance commission has the ability to lay so much grief on BCBS that they will cooperate and help meet UMC's needs. Yet there is no progress in solving this coverage problem - Is the Insurance Commission in BCBS's back pocket?

On top of this issue, now St Dominic’s is no longer accepting tricare

Insurance of all types = organized crime, with lots of palm greasing.

BCBS is CRIMINAL!
They literally stake out doctors' offices and record when a patient enters their doors and how long until they exit. They track the number of patients coming and going and tell the doctors if they think they are spending too much time with patients! Only the doctor knows how much time and care a patient needs during their visits. This has resulted in some doctors and NPs no longer accepting insurance from them. Several have adopted other payment models or memberships.

It sucks that insurance is private and tied to an employer. I’d love to switch away from BSBS, but I’d also like to remain employed. As always, the rich assholes win.

@12:20PM

Nah, I'm glad they are staking out the doors. Watch those dirty doctors and time them to see that they are upcoding Office Level visits and fraudulently billing BCBS. Had a crooked NP bill my insurance for a 45-minute office visit when I was only in the clinic for less than 5 minutes before being referred to an ER. Never even made it into the exam room but they billed the higher level visit.

BCBS probably has some wiggle room they can use to mediate; however it seems to me the biggest problem in the controversy, and many others, is UMMC acting like everyone should now to their whims. The leadership there is out of control with their self importance and press releases. UMMC management is looking out for one thing, themselves. They care nothing for patients, employees, or the level of healthcare provided to the city with soul.

Private physicians backstopped by a largely taxpayer funded hospital and facilities. Something very wrong with those facts.

If everyone was required to purchase their own insurance or pay for the visits themselves we would have much lower costs. I thought Obama Care was solving that and you were required to have insurance? I suggested a long time ago, when you you walk into an emergency room come with $500 down or hit the door if not insured. Remember it's the law you have to buy health insurance right or you pay for it through higher personal taxes.
Right now the people who buy insurance are paying for the 55% who don't through higher premiums.

UMMC has paid for perpetual negative ads playing on fear toward BCBS which is in very poor taste. UMMC only cares about their ego and billing.

By the way - Chaney never had any "power" to do anything really. Those who have the gold, make the rules.

Both BCBS and UMMC are bullies and the people losing are the policy holders and patients.

There are state and federal anti-trust laws that could be used against Blue Cross but they have too many powerful friends.

I'd love to know if/how much money BCBS has contributed to Mike Chaney's campaigns over the years. Chaney has a history of soliciting contributions from the insurance agents he regulates. As an insurance agent I have received such solicitation from Chaney. It only stands to reason that BCBS has also been approached.

Kingfish, if BCBS has given money to Mike Chaney, that would be a relevant article.

I received a call from MEA Medical clinics expressing concern about my blood pressure and cholesterol and inviting me to come to MEA for a program of treatment. Since I'm a UMC patient and not an MEA patient, I asked the MEA sales rep how she knew of my hypertension and cholesterol levels. She said BCBS gave them the information.

I would think it is illegal for BCBS to be selling my medical information to others.

Where is HIPPA when the need is relevant?

Time to take away UMC’s tax exempt status.

I worked for BCBSMS for many years. They work hard to keep expenses down and as a result keep premiums as low as possible (not easy to do these days). UMMC representatives were arrogant and condescending during the COVID pandemic. As a result, I tend to side with BCBSMS in this case.

UMMC has been chiseling citizens for decades in order to "grow" their little kingdom. That dominant hegemony is coming to an end because BCBS is actually attempting to expect good/great health outcomes from its network providers. UMMC likes having repeat customers that never get better, which is a model that no longer works - especially when you've overextended yourself like UMMC.

hello mr chaney......... the first thing you can do about BC/BS is get the entire mississippi legislature off their payroll.
...............................good luck with that.

Chaney is merely a politician trying to remain relevant. He has no power except to appear like he's trying to do something about it...like most politicians.