JACKSON, Miss. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi (BCBS) and Health Management Associates (HMA) have finally reached a deal to get customers at all 10 of Mississippi’s HMA Hospitals insured at in network rates. Those hospitals will be reinstated starting in January.
HMA dropped its lawsuit against BCBS, which claimed the hospitals were underpaid for services by the insurance provider. BCBS denied that accusation saying HMA was trying to raise profits.
Back in October, BCBS reinstated four of those HMA hospitals because of pressure from Governor Phil Bryant and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. Bryant tried forcing BCBS to reinstate all of the hospitals under an executive order; but that order was blocked by a federal judge.
