Bayou Health Newsletter 10.16.2012

Pharmacy Emergency Rule Posted Online

The Department of Health and Hospitals has posted a copy of the emergency rule announcing the Nov. 1 carve-in of pharmacy services into the three prepaid Bayou Health Plans online at www.MakingMedicaidBetter.com, under the "Pharmacy" tab. The rule was signed Friday, Oct. 12, and posted online today, Monday, Oct. 15.

Bayou Health Provider Outreach Sessions for Pharmacy Providers

Pharmacy will become a covered benefit of the three prepaid model Bayou Health Plans -- Amerigroup, LaCare and Louisiana Healthcare Connections -- effective Nov. 1. To assist pharmacists and prescribing providers with this transition, Bayou Health has arranged provider outreach and education sessions across the state, similar to the provider outreach that occurred in the original Bayou Health implementation. The sessions will begin this week and continue through Oct. 30.

These sessions include a presentation of how pharmacy will be carved in to Bayou Health, and supplemental information for providers about the initiative and how they can contract with the health plans. The sessions typically last an hour and a half, and many will take place after business hours to allow more providers the opportunity to participate. Providers have the option to enroll with as many of the health plans as they wish, and they can also remain legacy Medicaid providers to continue serving recipients in the two shared-savings model Bayou Health plans and the fee-for-service program.

SSA Consultants is DHH's contractor coordinating these provider outreach sessions. If you are interested in attending a session near you, contact Anita Byrne at 225.769.2676 to learn more about times and locations. DHH will post copies of the materials presented at these outreach sessions online at www.MakingMedicaidBetter.com under the "Pharmacy" tab, so that providers who are unable to attend a session in person can review the content. A list of currently scheduled provider outreach sessions is also available at this site.

DHH is continuing its daily noon provider calls, and has modified the schedule to have three days (Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays) dedicated to pharmacy issues. Providers can call 1-888-278-0296, access code 6556479#, to participate. No pre-registration is required. Wednesdays calls are for primary care providers, hospitals and other non-pharmacy providers, and Thursdays calls are hosted through Magellan and focus on specialized behavioral health care services. Any provider is welcome to call on any day, but priority will be given to questions related to that day's provider type, and Medicaid staff who work in that area of the program will be available on the designated days to assist. Providers can also email any questions or comments they have to bayouhealth@la.gov. Staff are typically able to provide an answer within one business day.