Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 6. Source pages: 3.
La. Department of Health Publishes Emergency Rules Terminating Services
On May 20, Rebekah E. Gee MD, MPH published Emergency Rules to reduce or elimine services to deal with budget shortfalls. In the Louisiana Register Dr. Gee authored and published a notice of the declaration of emergency for the office of behavioral health, adult behavioral health services
“As a result of a budgetary shortfall in state fiscal year (SFY) 2018-2019, the department has determined that it is necessary to promulgate an Emergency Rule to amend the provisions governing adult behavioral health services to terminate coverage for community psychiatric support and treatment (CPST) services and psychosocial rehabilitation services for Medicaid recipients 21 years of age and older,” Gee wrote.
“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 $39,610,680 for state fiscal year 2018-2019.”
Also effective July 1, the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing repeals all of the provisions governing Medicaid reimbursement for ambulatory surgical center services. This results in savings of $15,641,124, Dr. Gee wrote.
Cutbacks also include the elimination of outpatient substance use disorders services for adults, with reductions of $46,912,253.
Hospitals were also affected. Dr. Gee said that changes to revise and clarify the criteria for payments to public state-operated hospitals and Louisiana low-income academic hospitals are to reduce expenditures by $451,810,562.
Also reduced was the Medicaid eligibility when the Medically Needy Program was terminated and reductions of approximately $32,730,908.
Also the provisional Medicaid program was terminated, with reductions of $106,579,573.
Nursing facility services were reduced to eliminate payments for leave of absence days for patients who are on leave due to hospitalization or visits to home and/or family members, a $2,972,805 reduction.
Pediatric Day Health Care Program Termination Rule will reduce expenditures in the Medicaid Program by approximately $30,326,012.
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