How Inmate Medical Bills Are Usually Handled in Mississippi Counties — What to Check for Grenada County

The MAS program helps participating counties manage inmate medical and prescription costs by routing claims through a centralized system. The program reprices medical claims to Medicaid rates and coordinates benefits - checking for Medicare eligibility and any private insurance the inmate might have. For the county, the billing process is simple: medical providers and pharmacies send inmate bills to the program's administrator, and the county gets consolidated monthly reports instead of tracking each provider bill separately.

MAS has partnered with Association Program Administrators (APA) as the third-party administrator (TPA) for this program. APA handles claims administration - MAS directs counties to send correspondence, bill submissions, and payments to APA rather than juggling those pieces across multiple offices.

Need to reach the TPA directly? APA lists this contact information: Attn: Rob Tinsley, PO Box 321418, Flowood, MS 39232. Phone: 601-500-1631. Fax: 601-821-2621. Email: rtinsley@apadmins.com.

1. Route the bill to APA - Under the MAS program, medical providers and pharmacies send inmate bills directly to APA.
2. Send program correspondence and payments to APA - MAS’s instructions tell counties to direct correspondence, bill submissions, and payments to APA.

Counties use this structure because of what happens after the bill is submitted. The program reviews medical service codes and reprices claims to Medicaid rates. It also coordinates benefits by checking for Medicare eligibility (including coverage tied to age, disability, or renal failure) and looking for private insurance. If your loved one has any coverage, this coordination step is worth asking about when a bill looks confusing.

One practical detail that shows up repeatedly: each county has a plan group number and group ID. These identifiers should appear on submissions to APA (mail, fax, or email). MAS says the county's group number and group ID won't change, which makes it easier to confirm you're looking at the right program when reviewing paperwork.

Here's the typical payment flow under MAS/APA. Providers send bills to APA. APA adjudicates them and sends the county a monthly invoice with a savings report. Instead of paying multiple providers one by one, the county pays a single invoice to APA - then APA pays the medical and pharmacy providers directly.

MAS's program flyer spells out the savings split: counties keep 85% of medical savings and 90% of prescription savings. That incentive explains why counties run inmate medical bills through this repricing and coordination process - especially when budgets are tight.

1. Call the Board of Supervisors - Ask whether Grenada County participates in the MAS Inmate Medical/Rx Cost Containment Program and whether APA is the county’s administrator.
2. Use the contact details the county publishes - Physical address: 59 Green St., Grenada, MS 38901. Mailing address: PO Box 1208, Grenada, MS 38902-1208.
3. Try the listed phone numbers - (662) 226-1821 and (662) 227-2860.

• ✓ If APA is used, ask for the county’s plan group number and group ID (the identifiers that should appear on submissions).
• ✓ Ask how medical providers/pharmacies are supposed to submit inmate bills, and whether bills are sent to APA for adjudication.
• ✓ Ask whether the county receives a monthly invoice and savings report for inmate medical/Rx claims, and whether you can get copies related to your loved one.

You can also confirm the billing path through the jail. Grenada County's sheriff is David Garrett Hartley. The sheriff's office or jail administration is often the quickest way to find out how inmate medical bills are routed and who the county expects families or providers to contact.

If you confirm APA handles the county's inmate medical/Rx claims, here's their contact information: Association Program Administrators, LLC (Attn: Rob Tinsley), PO Box 321418, Flowood, MS 39232. Phone: 601-500-1631. Fax: 601-821-2621. Email: rtinsley@apadmins.com.

• ✓ The county’s plan group number and group ID tied to the MAS/APA program.
• ✓ Copies of the monthly invoice(s) and savings report APA sends to the county.
• ✓ Itemized bills or statements from the medical and pharmacy providers tied to the charges that appear on the consolidated invoice.
• ✓ Confirmation of the payment path: county pays the single invoice to APA, and APA pays the providers.

Next Steps Checklist

• ✓ Call the Grenada County Board of Supervisors (59 Green St., Grenada, MS 38901; PO Box 1208, Grenada, MS 38902-1208; (662) 226-1821 or (662) 227-2860) and ask if the county uses MAS/APA for inmate medical/Rx claims.
• ✓ If they do, ask for the county plan group number and group ID used on submissions.
• ✓ Ask whether claims are repriced to Medicaid rates and whether Medicare/private insurance eligibility is checked as part of coordination of benefits.
• ✓ Request copies of any monthly invoices and savings reports tied to your loved one’s medical or pharmacy charges.
• ✓ Confirm with the sheriff’s side who handles day-to-day questions about individual inmate medical bills.
• ✓ If you’re directed to APA, contact Rob Tinsley at APA (601-500-1631; rtinsley@apadmins.com) and ask what documentation they can provide for the specific dates of service and providers involved.