The Mississippi Insurance Department requested reports from North Mississippi Health Services and payer UnitedHealthcare showing efforts to resolve a payment dispute, reports Daily Journal.
In April the Tupelo, Miss.-based health system found $0 electronic payments from UnitedHealthcare, a discrepancy that could extend back years. In early October, NMHS grabbed a newspaper ad to reveal its plans to sever ties with the Minnetonka, Minn.-based payer over "failure to accurately and fairly reimburse" member services. In mid-October, the two companies decided to share electronic payment information and research in an attempt to solve the dispute.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney said, "We should be in a position to address whether significant progress has been made in resolving the dispute by the middle of next week."
Mr. Chaney and department staff requested the reports by Oct. 21 and have been in extensive communication with representatives from each company, according to the report.
Directed payment adjustments, fines and other penalties could be issued if Mr. Chaney's review of the reports and other documentations prove action is warranted, according to the report.
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