Mississippi Blues sued for breaching contracts with 10 hospitals

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi is getting sued by 10 Mississippi hospitals, all owned by Health Management Associates, that say the insurer breached their contract, forcing them to lose more than $13 million in improperly reduced inpatient payments, FierceHealthcare reported. The hospitals allege Blue Cross lowered its inpatient payments by rewording certain sections of its policy manual instead of negotiating payment adjustments directly with the hospitals. If either Blue Cross or the hospitals want to change what is paid, it must be "by mutual written consent" of each party. "It is unfair for insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield to not honor the amount they agreed to pay," said Bill Williams, HMA's division CEO for the hospitals. "That may benefit the insurance company and its executives, but it harms our hospitals and the communities we serve." >> Read the full article at FierceHealthcare