SLS 11RS-2682 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2011
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 161
BY SENATOR MCPHERSON
HEALTH/HOSPITALS DEPT. Requests the Department of Health and Hospitals to repeal
the administrative rule which requires a referral in order for services provided by a school
based health center to a child under the age of ten to be reimbursed by the Medicaid
program.
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to repeal the administrative rule2
which requires a referral from the primary care provider in order for services3
provided by a school based health center to a child under the age of ten to be4
reimbursed by the Medicaid program.5
WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Hospitals requires that in order for a6
school based health center to be reimbursed for services provided to a child who is under ten7
years of age that the child be referred to the school based health center by their primary care8
provider; and9
WHEREAS, this administrative rule is outdated and places an undue burden on the10
school based health centers operated in this state since many centers still provide services11
to children under the age of ten and do so without being able to obtain reimbursement from12
the Medicaid program; and13
WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Hospitals has included a significant14
budget cut of state general fund support to school based health centers in the current year15
appropriation bill with the expectation that this cut in funding can be offset by better billing16
practices of the school based health centers; and17
WHEREAS, school based health centers are impeded from maximizing18 SR NO. 161
SLS 11RS-2682 ORIGINAL
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reimbursement through the Medicaid program because of the existence of administrative1
rules like the one that requires a referral for services to children under the age of ten; and2
WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Hospitals recently suspended a similar3
administrative requirement for services provided by Federally Qualified Health Centers, and4
consistent action on the current rule for school based health centers would be beneficial to5
the further provision of health care services being provided at school based health centers.6
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana7
does hereby urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to repeal the8
administrative rule which requires a referral from the primary care provider in order for9
services provided by a school based health center to a child under the age of ten to be10
reimbursed by the Medicaid program.11
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the12
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.13
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Greg Waddell.
DIGEST
McPherson SR No. 161
Requests DHH to repeal the administrative rule which requires a referral in order for services
provided by a school based health center to a child under the age of ten to be reimbursed by
the Medicaid program.