RA Messages for September 22, 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 NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO APPENDIX A

     DRUG                       DOSE       STRGTH      MAC         EFF  

 AMIODARONE HCL               TABLET       200MG     $0.73750    09/25/09

 AMOX TR/POTASSIUM CLAVULAN   ORAL SUSP   600MG/5ML  $0.45000    09/25/09

 AMOX TR/POTASSIUM CLAVULAN   TABLET        500MG    $2.11580    09/25/09

 AMOX TR/POTASSIUM CLAVULAN   TABLET        875MG    $2.53200    09/25/09

 CLOBETASOL PROPIONATE        TOP CREAM    0.05%     $0.44650    09/25/09

 CLOTRIMAZOLE/BETAMET DIPROP  TOP CREAM   1%/0.05%   $0.82300    09/25/09

 CITALOPRAM HYDROBROMIDE      SOLUTION      10MG     $0.31240    09/25/09

 CITALOPRAM HYDROBROMIDE      TABLET        10MG     $0.16730    09/25/09

 CITALOPRAM HYDROBROMIDE      TABLET        20MG     $0.17250    09/25/09

 CITALOPRAM HYDROBROMIDE      TABLET        40MG     $0.17550    09/25/09

 CLARITHROMYCIN               TABLET       500MG     $0.86250    09/25/09

 CLOBETASOL PROPIONATE        TOP CREAM    0.05%     $0.18250    09/25/09

 ERYTHROMYCIN                 OPH OINT     0.5%      $1.50286    09/25/09

 METHYLPHENIDATE HCL          TABLET         5MG     $0.22530    09/25/09

 METHYLPHENIDATE HCL          TABLET        10MG     $0.30060    09/25/09

 METHYLPHENIDATE HCL          TABLET        20MG     $0.33090    09/25/09

 METOPROLOL SUCCINATE         TABLET SR    100MG     OFF MAC     09/25/09

 METOPROLOL SUCCINATE         TABLET SR    200MG     OFF MAC     09/25/09

 NAPROXEN                     TABLET       250MG     $0.10320    09/25/09

 NAPROXEN                     TABLET       375MG     $0.07610    09/25/09

 NAPROXEN                     TABLET       500MG     $0.08240    09/25/09

 OFLOXACIN                    OPH DROPS     0.3%     $3.45000    09/25/09

 TIZANIDINE HCL               TABLET         2MG     $0.26000    09/25/09

 TIZANIDINE HCL               TABLET         4MG     $0.32000    09/25/09

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


ATTENTION NEW OPPORTUNITIES WAIVER (NOW) AND TARGETED SUPPORT
COORDINATION (NFP, VACP, HIV) MEDICAID PROVIDERS

**The following message appeared on the RA of 9/8/09. A processing error occurred when these claims were recycled and all claims denied with edit 799. These claims are correctly adjusted on this RA (9/15/09). Please disregard the 799 denials and we apologize for any inconvenience caused due to the incorrect claim denials.**

To avoid a budget deficit, rate reductions were implemented for certain services in the Medicaid Program. Unfortunately, some procedure codes were updated after the effective date of those reductions, causing some claims to be paid at an incorrect higher rate. Claims are recycled in this checkwrite (claims identified with EOB code 570).


ATTENTION NEW OPPORTUNITIES WAIVER (NOW) AND LONG TERM PERSONAL
CARE SERVICE (LT-PCS) MEDICAID PROVIDERS

**The following message appeared on the RA of 9/8/09. A processing error occurred when these claims were recycled and all claims denied with edit 799. These claims are correctly adjusted on this RA (9/15/09). Please disregard the 799 denials and we apologize for any inconvenience caused due to the incorrect claim denials.**

To avoid a budget deficit, effective with date of service February 1, 2009, rate reductions were implemented for certain services in the waivers and long term personal care programs. Unfortunately, some procedure codes were inadvertently excluded from the reductions, causing some claims to be paid at an incorrect higher rate. File updates have been completed and claims are recycled in this checkwrite (claims identified with EOB code 570).


ATTENTION RHC/FQHC COMMUNITYCARE PCPS

Claims for the August monthly CommunityCARE Management Fees that denied with error 233 (Procedure Not covered) are being systematically recycled. You will see the correct processing/payment of these claims on the 09/22/09 RA. No provider action is required.


ATTENTION PROVIDERS BILLING ELECTRONIC (EDI) CLAIMS

An EDI processing error occurred the week of 09/07/09 that caused some EDI claim files to be dropped from the system. Claims contained on these dropped files were not processed in the checkwrite of 09/15/09. We have retrieved the dropped files and they are being processed in this week's RA (09/22/09). We have received calls from some providers and vendors this week concerning their claim files, and in some cases the files were resubmitted either by the provider/vendor or by Unisys EDI. If your files were resubmitted, you may see duplicate claims on the 09/22/09 RA where these files are being retrieved and reprocessed as a part of this corrective action. Please disregard the duplicate denials, and we apologize for any inconvenience this has caused our providers and vendors. Please contact the Unisys EDI Department at 225-216-6303 if you have concerns once this corrective action is taken.


ATTENTION PROVIDERS

The DHH has designated the Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum (LHCQF) as the entity responsible for guiding Louisiana's efforts to secure funding and support for health information technology through the stimulus bill. Funding is available to support health care providers through technical assistance and loan programs to assist in financing HIT acquisitions. Additionally, providers can receive Medicare or Medicaid incentives if they meet the "meaningful use" criteria that will be determined this year.

The LHCQF is conducting a survey to gather necessary information to inform all of its activities related to supporting providers in Louisiana in meeting the incentive requirements and avoiding penalties for not doing so. The current survey is for ambulatory health care facilities.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by using the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=X49GAwqaLbHIuGK_2bkOZKJQ_3d_3d. The link may also be found on the LHCQF website at www.lhcqf.org. If you do not have internet access but would like to complete the survey, please call (225)334-9299.

Responses are needed by Friday, September 25, 2009.


ATTENTION PROFESSIONAL PROVIDERS OF VACCINATIONS

Due to the continued public health issues related to influenza, the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has received many calls regarding the availability of seasonal influenza vaccines for Medicaid children. We have republished the policy related to the vaccine and its administration on the homepage of the lamedicaid.com website for your review and use. After reviewing the policy, if you have questions, contact DHH, the Office of Public Health (OPH) Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, your local health unit, or Unisys Provider Relations as appropriate.