RA Messages for March 31, 2009


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.

the PBM HELP DESK at 1-800-648-0790.

 Please note the following changes to Appendix A

    DRUG                                 DOSE                             STRGTH    LMAC         EFF
NORMAL     SALINE     DISP. SYRINGE     2ml            0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     DISP. SYRINGE     2.5ml         0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     DISP. SYRINGE     3ml            0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     DISP. SYRINGE     5ml            0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     DISP. SYRINGE     10ml          0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     IV SOLUTION        25ml         0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     IV SOLUTION        50ml         0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     IV SOLUTION        100ml       0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     IV SOLUTION        150ml       0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     IV SOLUTION        250ml       0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     IV SOLUTION        500ml       0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     IV SOLUTION        1000ml     0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     VIAL                        2ml           0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     VIAL                        10ml         0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     VIAL                        20ml         0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
NORMAL     SALINE     VIAL                        100ml       0.9%     off MAC     3/19/09
 

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


TAKE CHARGE/FAMILY PLANNING WAIVER PROVIDERS

Medicaid does NOT cover Essure (procedure codes 74740, 58565 and 58340) for Take Charge. In early March DHH told some providers it was a covered service but we cannot cover this service until we update the waiver documents with federal government and receive CMS approval. DHH apologizes for the miscommunication and will keep providers updated via RA messages and provider updates.


ATTENTION EARLYSTEPS PROVIDERS

EarlySteps claims for select procedures provided in the Natural Environment and impacted by the reimbursement rate change effective for dates of service 9/1/08 and after are being systematically adjusted to reflect the updated reimbursement rates if the billed charges were greater than the previous fee on file. These adjustments will appear on the RA of  3/31/09. No action will be required by providers. See the RA message dated 1/20/09 for details.

Claims where the billed charges were less than or equal to the previous fee on file will not be included in this systematic adjustment. For this situation, if providers determine adjustments are needed, providers
should review the claim adjustment policy and procedures in the 2007 Louisiana Medicaid EarlySteps Provider Training manual, pages 31-36. Contact Unisys Provider Relations at (800) 473-2783 or (225) 924-5040 with any questions.


ATTENTION PHYSICIANS AND HEMODIALYSIS CENTER PROVIDERS

In order to prevent claims requiring NDC data from processing differently during the same weekly cycle, the implementation of NDC denial edits will occur on processing date Monday, 4/6/09, rather than Wednesday, 4/1/09. This will allow all claims submitted within the same weekly cycle to process using the same logic instead of possibly having some claims process and pay with educational edits and others deny. Please be aware of this processing date change for NDC denials. Also, please remember that this affects claims with dates of service 3/1/08 forward.


LUPRON DEPOT THERAPY FOR PROSTATE CANCER

Updates have been made to the claims processing system to allow reimbursement for multiple units of Lupron Depot 7.5mg IM (J9217) to be administered on the same date of service to a recipient when medically indicated for the treatment of prostate cancer. It continues to be the Department's intent that provision of this medication other than for the treatment of prostate cancer is not reimbursable in Medicaid's 'Professional Services' program. A systematic adjustment of inappropriately denied or 'cutback' claims will be made. No action is required by providers. Notification will be made via remittance advice messages when the adjustments occur in the near future.


NOTICE TO HOSPITAL PROVIDERSS
DELAY IN IMPLEMENTATION OF NDC DENIAL EDITS FOR OUTPATIENT
HOSPITAL CLAIMS

DHH has learned that Medicare will implement the requirement for transmitting NDC data on electronically submitted claims effective 7/1/09. In an effort to allow hospital providers to make any systems changes needed to accommodate both the Medicaid and Medicare requirement, we are postponing the implementation of Medicaid claim denial edits related to the entry of NDC data on claims for outpatient hospital claims until 7/1/09.

Edits related to NDC claim data will continue to be educational edits through 6/30/09. The NDC edits are 120, 127, and 231.

The NDC data requirement is applicable for claims with dates of service 3/1/08 forward. Thus, any claim resubmittals with dates of service on or after 3/1/08 will deny beginning with processing date 7/1/09 if the necessary NDC data is not present on the claim.

This is the final delay by LA Medicaid of the implementation of claim denials.
 


ATTENTION DENTAL PROVIDERS

Increased reimbursement rates for certain procedures and coverage for additional procedures for the EPSDT Dental Program have been approved by CMS, effective for dates of service on and after December 24, 2008. Implementation of these changes will be delayed because required programming changes have yet to be complete; therefore, Medicaid will recycle affected claims. Complete details will be placed on the www.lamedicaid.com website under the "Billing Information" and "Fee Schedule" links. If you have questions, you may contact the LSU Dental Medicaid Unit at 504-941-8206 or 1-866-263-6534 (toll-free).


ATTENTION COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER (CMHC) PROVIDERS

At the request of the CMHC provider community, we are again extending the cut-off date for retroactive claims and will allow all CMHC providers to resubmit older, retroactive claims in an effort to "clean up" any unresolved claims left outstanding. Additionally, providers will be allowed to submit claims with dates of service from 1/1/2003 but MAY NOT SUBMIT any claims prior to their Medicare enrollment date. This is a change from the original 1/1/2005 effective date. Providers who meet the Medicare enrollment criteria and are interested in submitting claims with dates of service 1/1/2003-12/31/2004 must notify Unisys Provider Enrollment in writing with their request to change their Medicaid enrollment effective date and state the date requested. This request must be signed by someone affiliated with the CMHC who is authorized to make changes and sign on behalf of the provider and must be faxed to the Provider Enrollment unit at 225-216-6392.

This will be the final extension for these older claims, and the following procedures must be followed: (1) These claims may have dates of service from 1/1/2003 through 6/30/2008. (2) Any and all claims with these dates of service MUST be submitted electronically, regardless of whether the denial was caused by provider error or Unisys error. NO PAPER CLAIMS WILL BE ACCEPTED. This includes claims with TPL in addition to Medicare. (3) Claims must be submitted/resubmitted by 4/30/2009, and providers will be given a 2-month period from 5/1/2009-6/30/2009 to reconcile accounts and resubmit any denied claims for consideration. The final grace period ends on 6/30/2009.

Effective 7/1/2009 all CMHC crossover claims must be filed in accordance with timely filing guidelines. Please contact Unisys Provider Relations should you have questions.

Additionally, procedure codes G0410 and G0411 have been added to our claims processing system for submission on claims with dates of service 1/1/2009 forward. Claims with dates of service 1/1/2009 forward that have denied will be systematically recycled.