Medicaid

Today, Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Kathy Kliebert announced that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved a two-year renewal of federal authority to operate a demonstration program focused on advancing and sustaining access to health care services in the New Orleans area. The program, called the Greater New Orleans Community Health Connection (GNOCHC), is a Medicaid demonstration waiver that provides primary care and behavioral health care services to more than 54,000 individuals in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) announced today that it will integrate specialized behavioral health services into the benefits coordinated by Bayou Health plans for more than 920,000 Medicaid recipients. Currently, these services are provided separately in a program called the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership (LBHP). The Department will work with the five managed care organizations contracted to provide care to Louisiana's Medicaid recipients, as well as providers, recipients and stakeholders on the transition set for implementation on Dec. 1, 2015.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) today announced the recommendation of five managed care organizations (MCOs) to administer the next contract period for Bayou Health, which has transformed the way two-thirds of the state's Medicaid recipients receive health care services. All of the health plans selected will operate statewide.

Today, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) announced a plan to stop billing sexual assault victims for exams and tests. In order to stop billing victims, the plan streamlines the funding source through the Crime Victim's Reparation Board (CVRB). Through legislation, these changes will prevent direct billing of charges to the victim by allowing hospitals to bill the Crime Victim's Reparation Board directly.

Earlier this year, DHH submitted to CMS a revised state plan amendment (SPA) in response to an earlier denial by CMS of pending SPAs that governed payments to the public-private partnerships. DHH worked diligently to craft a new reimbursement methodology that addressed concerns raised by the federal agency.

Baton Rouge, La. -- The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) announced it is paying for two new services for Louisiana Medicaid recipients battling cancer to help improve health outcomes. As of July 1, 2014, Louisiana's Medicaid program began reimbursing for a genetic screening called Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay for Louisiana women diagnosed with early-stage invasive breast cancer and custom-fit compression garments for individuals who have undergone certain cancer treatments and are now experiencing the swelling symptoms caused by lymphedema.

Dr. Rebekah Gee, Louisiana Medicaid Medical Director, will host a teleconference on Wednesday, Oct. 15, to educate providers on DHH’s new family planning Medicaid program – Take Charge Plus.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Secretary Kathy H. Kliebert joined officials from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, and other health care leaders today in announcing a payment reform that will help Louisiana newborns have a head start on a healthy life. Effective Sept. 1, 2014, Blue Cross and Louisiana Medicaid will no longer pay for elective, medically unnecessary births of infants before 39 weeks of gestation. The change is expected to reduce the number of early elective deliveries by providers across the state and to reduce the number of costly health complications that lead many infants to have preventable medical challenges.

DHH will no longer host weekly Dental provider Q & A calls on Wednesdays. If dental providers have any questions, please feel free to contact the MCNA provider line at 1-855-701-6262 or email the Medicaid staff at bayouhealth@la.gov.