Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi sued Mississippi over a decade ago for making sure that its executives’ compensation couldn’t be disclosed. The University of Mississippi Medical Centre — despite being subject to the Institutions of Higher Learning, receiving state and federal funds — cites a broad exemption from state law when withholding the salary information of its top administrators. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi must file information regarding its executive compensation in its annual report to Mississippi Insurance Department. In 2009, however, the insurer sued the department to prevent it from disclosing the information to the public. In court filings, several current executives of the company were named as plaintiffs — Thomas Fenter (the chief medical officer) and Carol Pigott (the CEO). Bryan Lagg is the senior vice president of consumer and marketing sales. Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Patricia D. Wise sided with Blue Cross, ordering the department “to withhold from public disclosure all information concerning the compensation of BCBSM executives.” Wise determined that the Insurance Department didn’t use the information to carry out its duties, so it isn’t a public record, and that disclosing the salary information would violate “the privacy rights of the individual plaintiffs/executives.” Top executives make seven figures, a longtime former employee of the insurance company told Mississippi Today. Mississippi’s median household income is $46,000. “Salaries, employee compensation, and the dispute with UMMC are irrelevant to this contract dispute. It simply distracts away from what is really important, high-quality, cost effective care for our members,” Cayla Manngrum, manager for corporate communications at the company, stated in a statement to Mississippi Today. Mississippians might view it differently if they are faced with high health care costs and the additional burden of having to drive elsewhere for care. Court Order Bcbs, by kate on Scribd Carmen Balber is the executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit consumer advocacy group. She stated that health insurance is fundamentally a public good, regardless of whether it is delivered through private companies. She said that, at the end of it all, they’re paying for these salaries. This was referring to health insurance companies in general, as she has no knowledge about BCBS Mississippi. “I’m sure that any consumer with problems paying for their health insurance would be interested to learn that the CEO of the company was earning $1, $2, or $6 million per year.” This information is also available in many other states. California’s executive compensation report, which is published every year on the company website, shows that their top executive earned $6.4 million in 2020. The company’s chief executive made $15.6 million in Michigan in 2021. The spokesperson for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (the umbrella group representing 34 BCBS companies) stated that they do not know the exact number of states where executive compensation for BCBS is withheld from the general public. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners conducted a survey in 2016 of its members across the country and found that compensation figures for insurance companies were confidential in at most 12 states. This includes Mississippi. According to a former BCBS employee the company gives bonuses each year to employees, up to six figures for executives, around March every year. The bonuses have also increased in recent times. According to Mississippi Today, bonuses are an important component of incentive-based compensation. Mangrum stated that Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s employee incentive program is a proud part of their company. It rewards and thanks employees for individual performance and contributions to the Company’s health and wellness goals. The University of Mississippi Medical Center gets about 9% of its funding through the state. However, the hospital also protects the salaries of its executives. Mississippi Today asked for salary information from hospitals last year. UMMC refused to provide the information and invoked the broad exemption granted to hospitals in the state’s public record law. A spokesperson for the Institutes of Higher Learning said that salaries of UMMC employees are exempted from disclosure when reporters asked them about the information. According to a news report, Dr. LouAnn Woodward’s salary was $700,000.40 per year in 2016. According to an Economic Research Institute report, the average CEO of a nonprofit hospital made $600,000. Blue Cross and UMMC failed to meet their March 31 deadline for signing a new contract. This forced tens of thousands to either pay more for out-of network care at the hospital or to go elsewhere. UMMC claims it is underpaid in comparison to other academic medical centers in this region. It wants a 30% increase in reimbursement rates from Blue Cross for the first year. Blue Cross says that this is too much. Although there have been tensions between them in the past, this is the first time that UMMC has been out of network with Blue Cross. Hospital officials stated that the hospital had never seen UMMC leave the network. Reporters from WLBT sought information from the Insurance Department on Blue Cross Blue Shield executive compensation in 2009 on behalf of policyholders who wanted to see where their money was going. Blue Cross sued the Insurance Department and received a court order. Mississippi Today submitted a records request to the Mississippi Insurance Department last week for executive compensation information that Blue Cross Blue Shield must file annually. The department replied that it cannot fulfill the request because of a 2009 court order. Mark Haire, deputy commissioner, wrote that MID was prohibited from releasing the aforementioned information. Public hospital records have been exempted from public disclosure in the past. However, when the Singing River Health System of Pascagoula stopped contributing to its pension system between 2009 and 2014 due to a financial crisis, legislators enacted greater transparency. Now public hospitals must share minutes of board meetings and financial records. However, personnel and employee records as well as salaries are exempt. Blue Cross stated that they do not make money from customer premiums, but rather from “administrative efficiency, investments, and customer claims.” Blue Cross claims it exceeded 94% for large employers. Blue Cross achieved 99% while the requirement for individuals is 80%. The statement stated that Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s performance in medical loss ratio clearly shows its ability to ensure that the majority of Members’ premiums are for health care costs. Other states have passed laws that prevent the disclosure of executive compensation by insurers. Alabama used to make the information public. After lobbying by the insurance industry, the law was changed to keep salaries confidential in 2015. Jim McFerrin, an Alabama health care lawyer, stated to AL.com that customers would have more information about their finances and the ability to file legal actions in certain circumstances. For example, if they believe a rate hike is unreasonable. According to McFerrin, “A decrease of transparency means a decrease is accountability.” Molly Minta, a Mississippi Today reporter, contributed to this report. To support this important work, you can make a regular donation to the Spring Member Drive today.
Mississippians might be able to see things differently if they are faced with high health care costs and the additional burden of having to drive elsewhere for care. Court Order Bcbs, by kate on Scribd Carmen Balber is the executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit consumer advocacy group. She stated that health insurance is fundamentally a public good, regardless of whether it is delivered through private companies. She said that, at the end of it all, they’re paying for these salaries. This was referring to health insurance companies in general, as she has no knowledge about BCBS Mississippi. “I’m sure that any consumer with problems paying for their health insurance would be interested to learn that the CEO of the company was earning $1, $2, or $6 million per year.” This information is also available in many other states. California’s executive compensation report, which is published every year on the company website, shows that their top executive earned $6.4 million in 2020. The company’s chief executive made $15.6 million in Michigan in 2021. The spokesperson for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (the umbrella group representing 34 BCBS companies) stated that they do not know the exact number of states where executive compensation for BCBS is withheld from the general public. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners conducted a survey in 2016 of its members across the country and found that compensation figures for insurance companies were confidential in at most 12 states. This includes Mississippi. According to a former BCBS employee the company gives bonuses each year to employees, up to six figures for executives, around March every year. The bonuses have also increased in recent times. According to Mississippi Today, bonuses are an important component of incentive-based compensation. Mangrum stated that Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s employee incentive program is a proud part of their company. It rewards and thanks employees for individual performance and contributions to the Company’s health and wellness goals. The University of Mississippi Medical Center gets about 9% of its funding through the state. However, the hospital also protects the salaries of its executives. Mississippi Today asked for salary information from hospitals last year. UMMC refused to provide the information and invoked the broad exemption granted to hospitals in the state’s public record law. A spokesperson for the Institutes of Higher Learning said that salaries of UMMC employees are exempted from disclosure when reporters asked them about the information. According to a news report, Dr. LouAnn Woodward’s salary was $700,000.40 per year in 2016. According to an Economic Research Institute report, the average CEO of a nonprofit hospital made $600,000. Blue Cross and UMMC failed to meet their March 31 deadline for signing a new contract. This forced tens of thousands to either pay more for out-of network care at the hospital or to go elsewhere. UMMC claims it is underpaid in comparison to other academic medical centers in this region. It wants a 30% increase in reimbursement rates from Blue Cross for the first year. Blue Cross says that this is too much. Although there have been tensions between them in the past, this is the first time that UMMC has been out of network with Blue Cross. Hospital officials stated that the hospital had never seen UMMC leave the network. Reporters from WLBT sought information from the Insurance Department on Blue Cross Blue Shield executive compensation in 2009 on behalf of policyholders who wanted to see where their money was going. Blue Cross sued the Insurance Department and received a court order. Mississippi Today submitted a records request to the Mississippi Insurance Department last week for executive compensation information that Blue Cross Blue Shield must file annually. The department replied that it cannot fulfill the request because of a 2009 court order. Mark Haire, deputy commissioner, wrote that MID was prohibited from releasing the aforementioned information. Public hospital records have been exempted from public disclosure in the past. However, when the Singing River Health System of Pascagoula stopped contributing to its pension system between 2009 and 2014 due to a financial crisis, legislators enacted greater transparency. Now public hospitals must share minutes of board meetings and financial records. However, personnel and employee records as well as salaries are exempt. Blue Cross stated that they do not make money from customer premiums, but rather from “administrative efficiency, investments, and customer claims.” Blue Cross claims it exceeded 94% for large employers. Blue Cross achieved 99% while the requirement for individuals is 80%. The statement stated that Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s performance in medical loss ratio clearly shows its ability to ensure that the majority of Members’ premiums are for health care costs. Other states have passed laws that prevent the disclosure of executive compensation by insurers. Alabama used to make the information public. After lobbying by the insurance industry, the law was changed to keep salaries confidential in 2015. Jim McFerrin, an Alabama health care lawyer, stated to AL.com that customers would have more information about their finances and the ability to file legal actions in certain circumstances. For example, if they believe a rate hike is unreasonable. According to McFerrin, “A decrease of transparency means a decrease is accountability.” Molly Minta, a Mississippi Today reporter, contributed to this report. To support this important work, you can make a regular donation to the Spring Member Drive today. We are grateful for any amount that helps us continue producing high-quality journalism in Mississippi. Mississippi Today Nonprofit Mississippi News Despite the fact that Mississippi’s largest hospital and insurance company are in dispute over reimbursement rates, 50,000 Mississippians could be without affordable health care. However, the salaries of the executives at the two entities are kept secret from the public. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi sued Mississippi a decade ago to ensure that its executives’ compensation was not disclosed. The University of Mississippi Medical Centre, despite being subject to the Institutions of Higher Learning (and receiving federal and state funding), cites a broad exemption from state law when withholding the salaries of its top administrators. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi must file information regarding its executive compensation in its annual report to Mississippi Insurance Department. In 2009, however, the insurer sued the department to prevent it from disclosing the information to the public. In court filings, several current executives of the company were named as plaintiffs — Thomas Fenter (the chief medical officer) and Carol Pigott (the CEO). Bryan Lagg is the senior vice president of consumer and marketing sales. Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Patricia D. Wise sided with Blue Cross, ordering the department “to withhold from public disclosure all information concerning the compensation of BCBSM executives.” Wise determined that the Insurance Department didn’t use the information to carry out its duties, so it isn’t a public record, and that disclosing the salary information would violate “the privacy rights of the individual plaintiffs/executives.” Top executives make seven figures, a longtime former employee of the insurance company told Mississippi Today. Mississippi’s median household income is $46,000. “Salaries, employee compensation, and the dispute with UMMC are irrelevant to this contract dispute. It simply distracts away from what is really important, high-quality, cost effective care for our members,” Cayla Manngrum, manager for corporate communications at the company, stated in a statement to Mississippi Today. Mississippians might view it differently if they are faced with high health care costs and the additional burden of having to drive elsewhere for care. Court Order Bcbs, by kate on Scribd Carmen Balber is the executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit consumer advocacy group. She stated that health insurance is fundamentally a public good, regardless of whether it is delivered by private companies. She said that, at the end of it all, they’re paying for these salaries. This was referring to health insurance companies in general, as she has no knowledge about BCBS Mississippi. “I’m sure that any consumer with problems paying for their health insurance would be interested to learn that the CEO of the company was earning $1, $2, or $6 million per year.” This information is also available in many other states. California’s executive compensation report, which is published every year on the company website, shows that their top executive earned $6.4 million in 2020. The company’s chief executive made $15.6 million in Michigan in 2021. The spokesperson for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (the umbrella group representing 34 BCBS companies) stated that they do not know the exact number of states where executive compensation for BCBS is withheld from the general public. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners conducted a survey in 2016 of its members across the country and found that compensation figures for insurance companies were confidential in at most 12 states. This includes Mississippi. According to a former BCBS employee the company gives bonuses each year to employees, up to six figures for executives, around March every year. The bonuses have also increased in recent times. According to Mississippi Today, bonuses are an important component of incentive-based compensation. Mangrum stated that Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s employee incentive program is a proud part of their company. It rewards and thanks employees for individual performance and contributions to the Company’s health and wellness goals. The University of Mississippi Medical Center gets about 9% of its funding through the state. However, the hospital also protects the salaries of its executives. Mississippi Today asked for salary information from hospitals last year. UMMC refused to provide the information and invoked the broad exemption granted to hospitals in the state’s public record law. A spokesperson for the Institutes of Higher Learning said that salaries of UMMC employees are exempted from disclosure when reporters asked them about the information. According to a news report, Dr. LouAnn Woodward’s salary was $700,000.40 per year in 2016. According to an Economic Research Institute report, the average CEO of a nonprofit hospital made $600,000. Blue Cross and UMMC failed to meet their March 31 deadline for signing a new contract. This forced tens of thousands to either pay more for out-of network care at the hospital or to go elsewhere. UMMC claims it is underpaid in comparison to other academic medical centers in this region. It wants a 30% increase in reimbursement rates from Blue Cross for the first year. Blue Cross says that this is too much. Although there have been tensions between them in the past, this is the first time that UMMC has left the network with Blue Cross. Hospital officials stated that the hospital had never experienced any such issues. Reporters from WLBT sought information from the Insurance Department on Blue Cross Blue Shield executive compensation in 2009 on behalf of policyholders who wanted to see where their money was going. Blue Cross sued the Insurance Department and received a court order. Mississippi Today submitted a records request to the Mississippi Insurance Department last week for executive compensation information that Blue Cross Blue Shield must file annually. The department replied that it cannot fulfill the request because of a 2009 court order. Mark Haire, deputy commissioner, wrote that MID was prohibited from releasing the aforementioned information. Public hospital records have been exempted from public disclosure in the past. However, when the Singing River Health System of Pascagoula stopped contributing to its pension system between 2009 and 2014 due to a financial crisis, legislators enacted greater transparency. Now public hospitals must share minutes of board meetings and financial records. However, personnel and employee records as well as salaries are exempt. Blue Cross stated that they do not make money from customer premiums, but rather from “administrative efficiency, investments, and customer claims.” Blue Cross claims it exceeded 94% for large employers. Blue Cross achieved 99% while the requirement for individuals is 80%. The statement stated that Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s performance in medical loss ratio clearly shows its ability to ensure that the majority of Members’ premiums are for health care costs. Other states have passed laws that prevent the disclosure of executive compensation by insurers. Alabama used to make the information public. After lobbying by the insurance industry, the law was changed to keep salaries confidential in 2015. Jim McFerrin, an Alabama health care lawyer, stated to AL.com that customers would have more information about their finances and the ability to file legal actions in certain circumstances. For example, if they believe a rate hike is unreasonable. According to McFerrin, “A decrease of transparency means a decrease is accountability.” Molly Minta, a Mississippi Today reporter, contributed to this report. To support this important work, you can make a regular donation to the Spring Member Drive today.