Mississippi's insurance commissioner is urging the state's largest hospital and insurer to resolve their dispute, writing that a split would have a devastating impact on patients, Mississippi Today reported April 21.
The University of Mississippi Medical Center and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi have not been in communication since April 1 when the hospital went out of network with the insurance company, according to the report.
In a letter to the payer and hospital, insurance commissioner Mike Chaney noted they used a mediator during a 2018 contract dispute, according to the report. Mr. Chaney is asking the sides to call in a mediator again.
Mr. Chaney wrote that while the two sides seem to be further apart than in 2018, he believes they can find common ground. He gave the two parties an April 27 deadline to respond to his recommendation, according to Mississippi Today.
A hospital spokesperson said the hospital is open to mediation, according to the report. A Blue Shield of Mississippi representative said the payer would not be commenting on the matter before responding to the commissioner's letter directly.