JACKSON, Miss.–Blue Cross Blue Shield has put coverage back in some HMA hospitals for its customers.
The Clarion Ledger reports the Tri-Lakes Medical Center in Batesville, Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center in Amory, the Woman’s Hospital in Flowood, and the Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center in Clarksdale are all back under coverage.
The insurer has been in a big battle with HMA hospitals over reimbursement rates and dropped coverage from ten of the hospitals in Mississippi.
HMA sued BCBS back in June claiming they weren’t getting paid enough and the insurer clearly disagreed.
Governor Phil Bryant sent a letter to Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO Carol Pigott last week saying he intended to issue an executive order to regain coverage for all the customers affected by the lapse along with thousands fearing for their jobs.
“The threat to patients that I feel compelled to address can be avoided only if all ten of the affected hospitals are returned to the BCBS network immediately,” he said.
It didn’t take BCBS long to seek a temporary restraining order against Gov. Bryant blocking him from doing just that and asking for a hearing so they can get a permanent injunction.
Gov. Bryant said on Monday that the insurer never even reached out to talk to him before filing the lawsuit.
