RA Messages for February 22, 2006


PHARMACY PROVIDERS, PLEASE NOTE!!! 

EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 20, 2006 THE DEPT OF HEALTH & HOSPITAL, OFFICE OF SECRETARY, BUREAU OF HEALTH SERVICES FINANCING WILL REDUCE THE ESTIMATED ACQUISITION COST REIMBURSEMENT RATE UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM FOR ANTIHEMOPHILIA DRUGS, FACTOR PRODUCTS, TO THE AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICE MINUS 30 PERCENT FOR ALL PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROVIDERS. 

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


ATTENTION DENTAL PROVIDERS

SOME CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT OF ROOT CANAL THERAPY, BICUSPID(D3320) FOR TEETH NUMBERS 28 AND 29; AND ROOT CANAL THERAPY, MOLAR(D3330)FOR TEETH NUMBERS
30 AND 31 WHICH WERE RECEIVED BY MEDICAID BETWEEN THE DATES OF NOVEMBER 1, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 20, 2006 DENIED IN ERROR WITH DENIAL CODE 917 (LIFETIME LIMITS FOR THIS SERVICE HAVE BEEN EXCEEDED). THE PROBLEM CAUSING THE DENIAL HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND THE AFFECTED CLAIMS WILL BE RECYCLED BY MEDICAID FOR PAYMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THESE TRANSACTIONS WILL APPEAR ON YOUR REMITTANCE ADVICE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU MAY CONTACT THE MEDICAID DENTAL UNIT BY CALLING 225-216-6470. 


ALL PROVIDERS

LA MEDICAID RECENTLY INFORMED PROVIDERS THAT THE 2006 ICD-9-CM DISEASE AND PROCEDURE CLASSIFICATION UPDATE WAS COMPLETE AND THAT VALID CODES MUST BE USED ON CLAIM SUBMISSIONS WITH DOS 10-1-05 FORWARD. DELETED OR INVALID CODES WERE PLACED IN NON-PAY STATUS, RESULTING IN DENIAL ERROR 433. TO ALLOW PROVIDERS TO MAKE NECESSARY CHANGES IN THEIR CLAIM SYSTEMS, ERROR 433 WILL BE 'EDUCATIONAL ONLY' FOR CLAIMS WITH INVALID CODES UNTIL MARCH 1, 2006. FOLLOWING THE GRACE PERIOD AND PROVIDER NOTIFICATION, CLAIMS WILL AGAIN DENY WITH ERROR 433.FOR INFORMATION REGARDING ICD-9-CM OFFICIAL GUIDELINES FOR CODING AND REPORTING, PROVIDERS MAY ACCESS THE CMS WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.CMS.HHS.GOV/ICD9PROVIDERDIAGNOSTICCODES/ 


ALL PROVIDERS

LOUISIANA MEDICAID IS IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THE PROGRAMMING FOR THE 2006 HCPCS CODE UPDATES WHICH INCLUDES NEW AND DELETED CODES. PLEASE MONITOR FUTURE RA MESSAGES FOR NOTIFICATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR USE OF THE 2006 HCPCS CODES BY LOUISIANA MEDICAID. 


ATTENTION PROVIDERS AND SUBMITTERS OF ELECTRONIC CLAIMS

THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING 2005 AND 2006 ANNUAL CERTIFICATION FORMS HAS PASSED. IF YOU HAVE NOT SUBMITTED A CERTIFICATION FORM FOR YOU SUBMITTER NUMBER (BEGINNING WITH 450), IMMEDIATE ACTION IS REQUIRED. FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE REQUIRED FORM WILL RESULT IN DEACTIVATION OF THE SUBMITTER NUMBER. IF A NUMBER IS DEACTIVATED, THE CERTIFICATION FORM WILL HAVE TO BE RECEIVED IN THE UNISYS EDI DEPARTMENT HARDCOPY (NO FAXES) BEFORE THE NUMBER IS REACTIVATED. THIS WILL RESULT IN A DELAY IN PAYMENT FOR YOUR PROVIDERS. PROVIDERS SHOULD VERIFY WITH THEIR SUBMITTER THAT THIS REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN MET TO ENSURE NO DELAYS IN CLAIMS PAYMENT. 


STERILIZATION CONSENT CLARIFICATION

IN ORDER TO FACILITATE CORRECT SUBMISSION OF THE STERILIZATION CONSENT WHEN A PREMATURE DELIVERY OCCURS, THE FOLLOWING CLARIFICATION IS PROVIDED. "PREMATURITY" IS DEFINED AS THE STATE OF AN INFANT BORN PRIOR TO THE 37TH WEEK OF GESTATION. PHYSICIANS SHOULD USE THIS DEFINITION IN THE COMPLETION OF THE STERILIZATION CONSENT WHEN PREMATURE DELIVERY IS A FACTOR. 


NOTICE TO PROVIDERS OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

EFFECTIVE WITH THE DATE OF SERVICE JANUARY 1, 2006, THE FOLLOWING CPT CODES WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF CODES WHICH REQUIRE A QW MODIFIER. 

                                        80178             86880 
                                        83037             82271