RA Messages for January 19, 2010


PHARMACY PROVIDERS, PLEASE NOTE!!!

If you are unsure about the coverage of a drug product, please contact the PBM help desk at 1-800-648-0790.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO APPENDIX A

DRUG                                                                                 DOSE                 STRGTH             FUL                 EFF
NITROGLYCERIN                                                         TAB SUBL              0.3MG         OFF LMAC     12/14/2009
NITROGLYCERIN                                                         TAB SUBL              0.4MG         OFF LMAC     12/14/2009

Detailed LMAC and FUL changes are posted on www.lamedicaid.com.

Please file adjustments for claims that may have been incorrectly paid. Only those products of the manufacturers which participate in the Federal Rebate Program will be covered by the Medicaid program. Participation may be verified in Appendix C, available at www.lamedicaid.com


PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING

Pharmacy providers are advised that there will be a delay in implementing the new Louisiana Allowable Costs (LMACS) rates.


ATTENTION PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ANESTHESIA PROVIDERS
IMPLEMENTATION OF REIMBURSEMENT RATE REDUCTIONS

Effective with dates of service on or after August 4, 2009, the reimbursement rates for anesthesia services that are performed under the professional licensure of a physician (anesthesiologist or other specialty) are reduced by 3.5% of the fee amounts on file as of August 3, 2009. An emergency rule regarding these reductions was published in the August 20, 2009, issue of the Louisiana Register.

Providers will begin seeing these reductions on the RA of January 5, 2010. Claims for date of service August 4, 2009, that were adjudicated prior to January 5, 2010, will be systematically adjusted and no action is required by providers. Providers should monitor future RAs for updates regarding these adjustments. Notification will be made via remittance advice message when the recycle occurs. Effective for dates of service on or after November 20, 2009, maternity-related anesthesia services and anesthesia services rendered to recipients under the age of 16 shall be exempt from the August 4, 2009, rate reduction on anesthesia services performed by a physician (anesthesiologist or other specialty). An emergency rule was published regarding this amendment in the November 20, 2009, issue of the Louisiana Register.


TAKE CHARGE FAMILY PLANNING WAIVER COVERAGE
CLAIMS PAID IN ERROR TO BE VOIDED

The TAKE CHARGE Family Planning Waiver Program has coverage limited to specific services/provider types, including physician services, outpatient hospital services, and pharmacy services. We have learned that claims for programs other than those covered (i.e., inpatient hospital, home health, DME, and transportation) were paid in error for these recipients. The logic for processing claims for the TAKE CHARGE Program has been changed and two new edits activated to deny claims billed by providers not covered by this program. The edits are: Edit 544 = CLAIM TYPE/FORMAT NOT COVERED BY THE FPW PROGRAM, and Edit 541 = INPATIENT SERVICES ARE NOT COVERED BY THE FPW PROGRAM. Claims paid in error will be voided on the RA of January 19, 2010. We continue to strongly encourage providers to check recipient eligibility to confirm eligibility and any coverage restrictions the recipient you are seeing may have.


ATTENTION LAB & RADIOLOGY (NON-HOSPITAL) PROVIDERS
SYSTEMATIC CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT FOR DELAYED RATE REDUCTIONS

Lab & radiology claims impacted by the rate changes effective August 4, 2009, are being systematically adjusted for claims that were paid incorrectly as a result of a delay in implementation. Due to the large claims volume, the recycle will occur over two weeks in numerical order by billing provider number with the RA's of January 26, 2010 (Claim ICN range of 0010222000100 - 0010283739200) and February 2, 2010 (Claim ICN range of 0017222000100 - 0017272663000). Adjusted claims for each billing provider will appear on only one of the RA's. No action is necessary by providers. Please monitor your RA's to determine which date your claims were recycled.