RA Messages for August 4, 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.

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


POLICY UPDATE: AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS (NON-HOSPITAL)
REIMBURSEMENT FOR CORNEAL TISSUE

Effective with date of service September 1, 2008, in addition to the facility fee for the surgery, Louisiana Medicaid will reimburse the ASC for corneal tissue (currently HCPCS code V2785) used in corneal transplant procedures. It is the Department's intent that corneal tissue be reimbursed only when a valid facility fee for the related surgical procedure has been paid to the ASC on the same date of service for the same recipient. As in all circumstances, providers are expected to maintain appropriate records documenting the services billed to Medicaid.

Only those corneal tissue claims for date of service September 1, 2008 and after will be considered for this payment methodology. ASC providers that performed corneal transplants and were paid the facility fee for corneal transplant surgery may now submit claims for the corneal tissue, if applicable, for DOS September 1, 2008 forward. However, to prevent  inadvertent denials in the future, the ASC should bill for both the surgery and the corneal tissue on the same claim. The situation is an exception to current published Non-Hospital ASC policy stating "There should only be one line item per claim form."


ATTENTION PHYSICIANS

Due to a claims processing error, some duplicate Medicare Part B claims were paid in the past. All duplicate claims paid 7/1/07 or after are being voided on the 7/28/09 RA. We regret any inconvenience this processing error may have caused. Please contact Unisys Provider Relations if you have any questions.


ATTENTION DENTAL PROVIDERS

Louisiana Medicaid enrolled dental providers are required to update their provider contact information through the www.lamedicaid.com website. The Provider Locator Information link allows providers to update existing contact information and the option to indicate if they are "Accepting New Medicaid Patients," which will then be viewable to the public when using the Provider Locator Tool to locate Medicaid providers. Complete details are located on the www.lamedicaid.com website. Questions about the website may be directed to Unisys Provider Relations at (800) 473-2783 or (225) 924-5040.


ATTENTION PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROVIDERS
COCHLEAR IMPLANT POST-OPERATIVE PROGRAMMING CODES

Effective with date of service July 1, 2006 forward, Louisiana Medicaid reimburses for cochlear implant post-operative programming codes (current CPT code range 92601-92604). Providers are to adhere to national standards and CPT guidelines when billing for these services. If nationally approved changes occur to these CPT codes at a future date, providers are to follow the most accurate coding available for covered services for that particular date of service, unless otherwise directed. Medicaid payments received by providers for inappropriate services are subject to review, recoupment and sanction. A systematic recycle of claims that originally denied for "procedure/type of service not covered by program" will be completed in the near future. No action is necessary by providers. Notification will be made via remittance advice message when the recycle occurs.