RA Messages for October 6, 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.
Erythromycin base                 ophth oint               5mg/gm             off MAC         09/25/09
Heparin Sodium, porcine       vial                        10,000/ml           off MAC         09/09/09

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


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.


ATTENTION PHARMACY PROVIDERS

Updates to the Pharmacy Benefits Management Services Manual are now available on the Louisiana Medicaid website at www.lamedicaid.com. Pharmacy providers should refer to the manual for a complete description of Medicaid pharmacy program policy.