RA Messages for December 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.

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 LTC PROVIDERS
CHANGES TO THE 148 PLI ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE

Effective December 1, 2009, all 148 PLI Adjustment Forms may only be completed and submitted to Unisys for processing by a BHSF representative. Providers may no longer complete and/or submit these forms for processing. The 148 PLI Adjustment Form is being revised to reflect these changes, and forms may no longer be obtained through Unisys. Providers should contact the recipient's Parish Medicaid Office if they have information or concerns about patient liability.


IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL MEDICAID PROVIDERS AND VENDORS

Due to a shortage of Louisiana Medicaid 7-digit provider numbers to enroll new providers, we will increase the availability of these numbers for assignment to newly enrolled providers by using numbers that being with "2" as the first digit of the number. Beginning December 4, 2009, LA Medicaid will convert all systems to accept 7-digit provider numbers beginning with "2". LA Medicaid provider numbers beginning with "1" will continue to be valid and accepted. Please see the homepage at our website, www.lamedicaid.com, for additional information and continue to watch RA messages and the website for definite dates of this conversion.


ATTENTION PHARMACY PROVIDERS
LOUISIANA MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT OF TAMIFLU� SUSPENSION

Louisiana Medicaid does not pay for compounded prescriptions, nor has the billing process been established to allow the submission of compounded prescriptions.

Due to H1N1 Declared Emergency and shortage of commercially manufactured oseltamivir (Tamiflu�) suspension, Louisiana Medicaid will only allow pharmacies to bill the quantity of Tamiflu� capsules utilized in the mixing of the suspension as ordered by a prescribing practitioner's prescription. This will be allowed as long as the shortage of the manufactured Tamiflu� exists.

Pharmacies may receive letters from the Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Audit Section which is verifying the quantity of Tamiflu� capsules dispensed. In some instances, pharmacies have submitted billed quantities for the final compounded quantity and not the total number of capsules used in the mixing of the suspension. Following the instructions above will avoid the overbilling of quantities and/or charges.

When a pharmacy is attempting to bill Medicaid as the secondary payor, the claim must be submitted on the NCPDP paper Universal Claim Form.

For those pharmacy providers who have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals' Office of Public Health to dispense antivirals from the Strategic National Stockpile, please be reminded that Medicaid may not be billed for these prescriptions.


ATTENTION PROVIDERS OF CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS

A new vaccine for the booster dose of children aged 15 months through 4 years for the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) immunization series is available from the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program. The American Medical Association (AMA) has released guidelines for the use of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) procedure code 90648 for reporting the use of this Hib booster vaccine for the booster (final) dose of the Hib immunization series (see CPT Assistant September 2009). Louisiana Medicaid follows this guidance from the AMA and providers of childhood vaccines should use CPT code 90648 for reporting this vaccine. If nationally approved changes occur to CPT codes at a future date, providers are to follow the most accurate coding available for covered services, unless otherwise directed.

Louisiana Medicaid will reimburse providers for the administration only of the vaccine as the vaccine is available from the Louisiana VFC program at no charge to VFC enrolled providers. Providers should contact the Unisys Provider Relations unit at (800) 473-2783 or (225) 924-5040 with billing policy questions. Questions related to this vaccine including its availability should be directed to the Louisiana Office of Public Health-Immunization Program at (504) 838-5300.


NURSING HOME PROVIDERS

2010 Nursing Home Case-Mix Rate Training Workshop is scheduled for January 25, 2010 from 1:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. at the Department of Environmental Quality, Galvez Building, Oliver Pollock Conference Room C111, 602 N. Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

This program has been designed to provide nursing facility personnel and consultants an understanding of the Louisiana case-mix rate methodology, case-mix calculations, fair rental value bed-buy back, private room conversions, and the use of cost report data.

The training is appropriate for Cost Report Preparers, Accountants (including Home Office Staff), CFO's, Controllers, Office Managers, and Others involved in Case-Mix Rate Reviews. 4 CPE credits: Specialized Knowledge & Applications. Submit registration by January 18, 2010. To download the registration form, go to http://www.dhh.la.gov/offices/events.asp?ID=111&detail=7910 or contact Myers & Stauffer LC @ 1-800-374-6858.


ATTENTION MULTI-SYSTEMIC THERAPY (MST) PROVIDERS

Providers may now view the current MST Provider Manual on the Medicaid website, www.lamedicaid.com.


ATTENTION DENTAL PROVIDERS

The LAMedicaid website now has a "Dental Providers" link on the left of the homepage. This link provides information about the Medicaid Dental programs and services available to Medicaid dental providers. The website can be accessed at www.lamedicaid.com. Questions about the LAMedicaid website may be directed to Unisys Provider Relations at (800) 473-2783 or (225) 924-5040.