RA Messages for April 7, 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


OBSTETRICAL ULTRASOUND POLICY CLARIFICATION

Louisiana Medicaid's policy on obstetrical ultrasounds has been updated and clarified. Providers submitting claims for these services are responsible for, and expected to comply with, Medicaid policy. The clarification is currently published on the Medicaid website homepage, found at www.lamedicaid.com, and will also be published in an upcoming edition of the "Louisiana Medicaid Provider Update."


ATTENTION PROVIDERS

For Medicaid pharmacy services effective May 1, 2009, the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing will establish a five-prescription limit per recipient per calendar month. Please refer to www.lamedicaid.com for detailed information.


ATTENTION: CDC HEALTH ADVISORY - VACCINE SHORTAGE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Advisory Alert regarding Haemophilus influenzae Type B disease and a documented shortage of the vaccine for this disease. Included in this alert are recommendations from the CDC for the provision of the vaccine during this time of vaccine shortage. A link to this important Health Advisory Alert can be found on the homepage of the Medicaid website, www.lamedicaid.com. Louisiana Medicaid urges all providers of pediatric vaccines to review this information. For further information on Haemophilus influenza Type B conjugate vaccination, please visit the LINKS Immunization Registry at https://linksweb.oph.dhh.louisiana.gov/linksweb/main.jsp


ATTENTION ALL PROVIDERS

Effective March 30, 2009, HMS assumed the responsibility of updating the TPL Resource Files for recipients with private insurance. A new form for reporting TPL information updates was introduced in the Spring 2008 TPL provider training workshops. At that time, providers were given the option to either submit the form via fax or to continue to mail the form with the affected claims to the TPL Unit. With the transition to HMS, providers should discontinue submitting claims with the TPL Information Update form. Effective immediately, the update form must be FAXED to HMS at 1-866-976-2215. An EOB or carrier letter supporting the requested update should be included when/if available. Any claims submitted with these requests will not be processed; they will be considered documentation only. Processing of your requests should only take one week. Providers should hold any and all claims until the recipient file is updated, then submit the claims through normal processing channels. Providers should check this information through the recipient eligibility options, e-MEVS, MEVS, or REVS, to ensure that the update has occurred. The new TPL form, Medicaid Recipient Insurance Information Update, is located on the homepage of the La Medicaid website, www.lamedicaid.com, under the link, "TPL Information." Questions concerning updates should be addressed to HMS at 1-866-976-2210.


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.