Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 5. Source pages: 7.
As published in the Louisiana Register for April, Rebekah E. Gee MD, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, published an Emergency Rule, noting a budget shortfall and the elimination of psychosocial rehabilitation services for youth, in the Medicaid Program.
Gee wrote, “As the result of a budgetary shortfall in SFY 2017, the Department now proposes to amend the provisions governing children’s behavioral health services in order to terminate coverage and reimbursement of psychosocial rehabilitation services to youth. This action is being taken to avoid a budget deficit in the Medical Assistance Program. It is estimated that implementation of this Emergency Rule will reduce expenditures in the Medicaid Program by approximately $5,844,004 for state fiscal year 2016-2017.”
She wrote that effective April 1, 2017, the Department would amend the provisions governing children’s behavioral health services to eliminate coverage and reimbursement for psychosocial rehabilitation services to youth.
The Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing and the Office of Behavioral Health, through collaborative efforts, provide coverage of behavioral health services for children and youth through a comprehensive system of delivery covered under the Medicaid Program, noted the rule. On March 22, the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare held and oversight hearing and nullified the Emergency Rule.
Senator Fred Mills wrote, “The committee held that the Emergency Rule was not in conformity with the intent and scope of the enabling legislation, was not in conformity to all applicable provisions of law and of the constitution, is lacking in merit, and is unacceptable. The committee further held that the Emergency Rule caused imminent peril to the public health, safety, and welfare of more than 40,000 children with significant behavioral health needs.”
He wrote that after a “thorough hearing on the matter, including a presentation by the department and public testimony, the committee, by unanimous vote, rejected the Emergency Rule on the grounds set forth in R.S. 49:953(B)(1) and R.S. 49:968(D)(3).”
“By transmittal of this written report of committee action and pursuant to R.S. 49:953(B)(4)(c) the Emergency Rule eliminating the psychosocial rehabilitation services for youth program on April 1, 2018 shall hereby be null and without effect.”
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.