As Amended
SEC. 43-13-123. Methods of providing for payment of claims.
The determination of the method of providing payment of claims under this article shall be made by the division, with approval of the governor, which methods may be:
(1) By contract with insurance companies licensed to do business in the state of Mississippi or with nonprofit hospital service corporations, medical or dental service corporations, authorized to do business in Mississippi to underwrite on an insured premium approach, such medical assistance benefits as may be available, and any carrier selected pursuant to the provisions of this article is hereby expressly authorized and empowered to undertake the performance of the requirements of such contract.
(2) By contract with an insurance company licensed to do business in the state of Mississippi or with nonprofit hospital service, medical or dental service organizations, or other organizations including data processing companies, authorized to do business in Mississippi to act as fiscal agent.
The division shall solicit, receive, review, accept and award contracts for services to be provided under either of the above-described provisions after advertising for bids by publication of notice therefor in one or more newspapers having a general circulation in the state of Mississippi, which said notice shall be published for at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, the first publication of which shall be at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the date set therein for the receipt of bids. Final determination on acceptance of a bid for the purposes of this provision will be subject to the review and approval of the public procurement review board.
The authorization of the foregoing methods shall not preclude other methods of providing payment claims through direct operation of the program by the state or its agencies.
SOURCES: Codes, 1942, Sec. 7290-42; Laws, 1969, Ex Sess, ch. 37, Sec. 12; 1978, ch. 489, Sec. 3; 1984, ch. 488, Sec. 51, eff from and after July 1, 1984.