Sunday, October 30, 2022

Bill Crawford: Agency Leaders Need Leg.'s Help

State Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney asked the Legislature for help after breaking off mediation efforts between the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi. Chaney called “horrendous” the complaints his office has gotten from affected patients. “It’s deplorable that the citizens of our state are being used as pawns to settle this dispute,” he said.

Chaney has recognized he needs more authority to avoid such patient harming disputes. “I will be pursuing legislation in the 2023 Legislative Session to protect consumers in the future from getting caught in the middle of these types of contract disputes,” Chaney wrote in his mediation suspension notice. 

Maybe his criticism of both parties and outreach to the Legislature will have impact. Rumors abound that the two will end their bitter dispute prior to year-end.

Chaney is not the only agency head frustrated with helplessness to deal with critical problems.

The anti-fraud HOPE Act passed by the Legislature in 2017 is giving Bob Anderson, the executive director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, fits. He told the Senate Study Group on Women, Children and Families that the act over-polices poor people and prevents them from accessing child care. That keeps them from getting jobs. 

And that causes a problem for Ryan Miller, head of the state workforce development agency, Accelerate Mississippi, who wants them in the workforce. “The number-one topic that continually comes up is child care, or lack of available child care,” he told the Senate study group as reported in Mississippi Today.

Then there is embattled State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney. Facing a “health care crisis in this state” we must deal with, he told Mississippi Public Broadcasting, “We are seeing an increasing number of hospitals entering a danger zone in their ability to operate and sustain operations.” 

“We have to choose to do something about it,” he added. The problem is he and his State Department of Health have no means to help hospitals. 

One in desperate need is Greenwood Leflore Hospital. “Hospital’s Negotiations With UMMC Stall” read the headline in the Greenwood Commonwealth. That means no help until next year if at all. At the MEC’s annual Hobnob last week Chaney told reporters he expected the hospital would have to close. 

Out of cash, the hospital is cutting every service it can and still keep its doors open, reported the Commonwealth. It must maintain its limited in-patient services in order to maintain its licenses and certificates of need. Plus the hospital owes $5.6 million on a federal loan and must catch up on deferred maintenance for about $3.5 million before UMMC will sign a contract. The hospital has asked its city and county owners to cover those costs. 

These executives’ have turned their eyes to the Legislature for help. Will the cash flush Legislature respond? Or will it turn its often blind eye to these dilemmas?

“I showed how you should work to help everyone who is weak” – Acts 20:25.

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, so government regulation can help the consumer? Blasphemous!

Let the free market sort it out. “Capitalism” requires human sacrifices sometimes. Even child sacrifices.

Anonymous said...

For some reason we are seeing business and services that cannot make enough to keep the doors open. Those businesses and services keep asking for help to keep them in business. If a business or service cannot make enough money to keep their doors open there is a bad problem. Either they do not have something the public wants, they are over priced and there is something comparable to them for a more reasonable price, or they are using their money for things that it is not intended to be used for. In so many of the cases it is unwise use of the money they have coming in. The people who do not use what they are selling should not have to pay for them to stay in business. The people who uses their service or product should pay for them to keep their doors open. If that is not the case they should get out of the business and let another business take their place.

Anonymous said...

it will be paid

Anonymous said...

Medical care and prescription drugs are very overpriced and overregulated in the U.S. I base this on living in two other countries where I obtained these services and paid cash. No, I wasn't subsidized by the local government. I also walked into pharmacies and obtained medicine that would require a doctor's prescription here, but not there.

Anonymous said...

12:05, and the funny part is you can get meds shipped to your home from another country that you have to have a doctor's permission slip here to get.

Anonymous said...

The problem is the heavy burden of uncompensated care which drives up the costs fot the insured and the insurers.
But we can’t talk about that.

Anonymous said...

4:36, that is a problem. But it is not THE problem.

Choice and competition solves so much that government can't.

Anonymous said...

@4:36 to follow up your post, what is unsaid is that in "certain parts of the state", the amount of uncompensated care dwarfs the amount of compensated care, and it is impossible for any hospital to function when you consider the mountains of both federal and state regulations that for some reason just are not applicable to the areas in question. Our elected officials are aware of the problem, however it is obvious that no one has any workable solution. But it is guaranteed that if enough hospitals close, not one of these sorry individuals will be reelected.

Anonymous said...

Looks like the State is taking over the Greenwood hospital.

The people in that area have no health insurance so now the State will pay for their care.

Don Drane said...

Let's not overlook the fact that creating additional agencies only compounds the problems. There are at least six agencies and every junior and community college (not to mention a host of private organizations) involved in so-called 'workforce development'. Didn't mean to leave out all the secondary schools that have career development on campus.

For at least the past 55 years, neither the state nor the federal government nor the two in concert have even attempted to get a handle on this madness.

This caught my eye in the above article: "And that causes a problem for Ryan Miller, head of the state workforce development agency, Accelerate Mississippi, who wants them in the workforce."

What the hell is 'Accelerate Mississippi'? That too will fall by the wayside in a year or two. The list of acronyms (dead and alive) is the length of Uncle Fester's Long Johns.

Anonymous said...

5:27 - "Accelerate Mississippi" is nothing more than another burden on the PERS system. Wasn't intended to do anything and wont. Like the radio guy who runs The State Department of RE-hab-ilita-shun services, those millions in advertising dollars could be better spent than gifting it to Super-Tawk.

Anonymous said...

Problem with the free market argument is that in a free market system costs and/or charges to a consumer aren’t capped. So if demand goes up, price goes up. Not so in medicine. Charges are capped by the government. So there really isn’t a free market per se. if you wanted to save some expenses cut the several layers of administrative overhead and number of administrators in any hospital. Many make mid six figures and do nothing. Keep in mind physicians are only approximately 10% of any hospital bill with the rest made by hospital and technical charges.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

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.


Note: Security provided by INS.

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.

Note: Security provided by INS
.