Coronavirus (COVID-19) Medicaid Information

Information for Members

• Medicaid could cover COVID-19 testing and vaccines for uninsured individuals (Revised May 14, 2021)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Access for Uninsured Individuals Fact Sheet (April 16, 2021)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Access for Uninsured Individuals Fact Sheet - Spanish (April 16, 2021)
• Federal stimulus checks, unemployment benefits may affect Medicaid eligibility (March 12, 2021)
• Behavioral Health Immediate Resources (October 8, 2020)
• Federal stimulus checks will not affect eligibility for state assistance programs (September 24, 2020)
• Medicaid Regional Offices Now Open (June 2, 2020)
• Louisiana Medicaid Keeping Members Covered During Coronavirus Emergency (April 20, 2020)
• Timeline for requesting an appeal on Medicaid decisions extended (April 9, 2020)
• All Medicaid Regional Offices Closed to the Public (March 17, 2020)

Guidance for Providers

• Informational Bulletin 20-5: Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Medicaid Provider Update (Revised May 28, 2021)
• UPDATE: Medicaid Eligibility Group Provides COVID-19 Related Coverage for Uninsured Patients (May 11, 2021)
• Provider Information on COVID-19 Testing for the Uninsured (Revised May 7, 2021)
• LDH Resumes Use of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine (April 26, 2021)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Access for Uninsured Individuals Provider Fact Sheet (April 16, 2021)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Access for Uninsured Individuals Provider Fact Sheet - Spanish (April 16, 2021)
• Medicaid Provider Update on Vaccine Administration (April 13, 2021)
• Informational Bulletin 20-4: COVID-19 – MHR Telemedicine/Telehealth (Revised April 7, 2021)
• Informational Bulletin 20-6: COVID-19 – LMHP Telemedicine/Telehealth (Revised April 7, 2021)
• Informational Bulletin 20-7: COVID-19 – SUD Telemedicine/Telehealth (Revised April 7, 2021)
• Increase to COVID-19 Vaccine Rates Effective March 15, 2021 (Revised March 26, 2021)
• Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Update for Medicaid NEMT Providers (Revised February 11, 2021)
• COVID-19 Vaccines: CDC Long-Term Care Facility Toolkit
• Updated Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Coverage (December 28, 2020)
• Adult Day Center Retainer Payment FAQs (December 23, 2020)
• HHS begins distributing over $24 billion in Phase 3 COVID-19 Provider Relief Funding (December 23, 2020)
• Revision to COVID-19 testing payment methodology (December 22, 2020)
• Healthcare Facility Notice: Temporary Suspension of Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) (December 15, 2020)
• HHS Expands Relief Fund Eligibility and Updates Reporting Requirements (October 26, 2020)
• HHS Provider Relief Fund Phase 3 General Distribution Fact Sheet
• HHS Provider Relief Fund Phase 3 – 6 Steps to Apply Presentation
• HHS Provider Relief Fund Phase 3 Informational Webcast
• Provider Relief Fund: Third Phase of General Distribution Funding (October 2, 2020)
• Healthcare Facility Notice: Lifting of Temporary Suspension of Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) (October 1, 2020)
• Coverage and Payment for COVID-19 Testing in Nursing Facilities
• Provider Relief Fund Post-Payment Reporting Requirements (September 24, 2020)
• Provider Memo: Assisted Living Facilities can now apply for Provider Relief Funding (September 9, 2020)
• EMS COVID-19 Services Eligibility and Claims (Revised August 25, 2020)
• Medicaid and CHIP Provider Distribution of the Provider Relief Fund FAQs (Revised August 4, 2020)
• Provider Memo: Updated Deadline for Medicaid Provider Relief Funding Applications (July 20, 2020)
• Medicaid Provider Relief Fund Extension (Revised July 20, 2020)
• HHS Fact Sheet: Medicaid and CHIP Provider Distribution of the Provider Relief Fund (July 8, 2020)
• Provider Memo: Medicaid Provider Relief Funding Update and Webinar (July 6, 2020)
• Informational Bulletin 20-8: CARES Act Provider Relief Funding (Revised June 15, 2020)
• Healthcare Facility Notice: Lifting of Temporary Suspension of Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) (June 12, 2020)
• Informational Bulletin 20-12: COVID-19 Update for PDHC Facilities (Revised May 12, 2020)
• Data Requested by HHS for CARES Act Provider Relief Funding Memo (May 7, 2020)
• Informational Bulletin 20-9: EPSDT Personal Care Services (Revised May 5, 2020)
• Informational Bulletin 20-13: Infection Control Guidance for Home Health Agencies (May 1, 2020)
• Prohibited PPE Billing: (April 30, 2020)
• Healthcare Facility Notice: Temporary Suspension of Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) (April 28, 2020)
• Informational Bulletin 20-11: Teledentistry during the COVID-19 Declared Emergency (April 22, 2020)
• Guidance on the Provision of Health Care Services in a Non-Discriminatory Manner During the COVID-19 Event (April 5, 2020)

 Health Plan Advisories

• HPA 20-6 Response to COVID-19 (Revised May 28, 2021)
• HPA 20-7 COVID-19 – MHR Telemedicine/Telehealth (Revised February 25, 2021)
• HPA 20-8 COVID-19 – LMHP Telemedicine/Telehealth (Revised February 25, 2021)
• HPA 20-9 COVID-19 – SUD Telemedicine/Telehealth (Revised February 25, 2021)
• HPA 20-13: COVID-19 Update for PDHC Facilities (April 29, 2020)

Emergency Rules

• COVID-19 Medicaid Emergency Rules - Published March 25, 2020
• COVID-19 Medicaid Emergency Rules - Published April 8, 2020 
• Programs and Services Amendments Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency Home and Community-Based Services Waivers and Long-Term Personal Care Services - September 9, 2020

Requests Submitted to CMS

• 1812f Waiver Request to CMS to allow flexibilities related to Skilled Nursing Facilities
  • Approved through blanket waiver March 28, 2020 Request submitted to CMS
    • Blanket waiver
• 1135 Waiver Request to CMS to allow flexibilities in several areas to ensure Medicaid members can access care they need during the Public Health Emergency
  • Request submitted to CMS March 17, 2020
  • Partial approval received from CMS March 23, 2020
  • Request submitted to CMS March 28, 2020
  • Request submitted to CMS April 20, 2020
• 1915k (Appendix K) Waiver Requests to CMS to allow flexibilities related to home and community-based 1915c waivers
  • All Appendix K waiver updates can be found at the Medicaid.gov website. Select Louisiana from the "State" dropdown menu to see approval letters and Appendix K documents for OCDD, OAAS and OBH waivers.
• Disaster Relief State Plan Amendment Requests
  • Approved April 20, 2020 Title XIX SPA request 
  • Approved April 24, 2020 Title XXI CHIP Disaster Relief Supplemental SPA Request - COVID-19
    • Title XXI CHIP disaster flexibilities notice to CMS (April 6, 2020)
  • Approved June 26, 2020 Section 7.4.1 Medicaid Disaster Relief for the COVID-19 National Emergency