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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 166
BY SENATOR JOHNS
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to facilitate the processing and
payment of Medicaid claims.
WHEREAS, in 2012, the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) implemented
the Bayou Health program and the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership program,
transferring the responsibility for managing the Medicaid population and processing claims
and reimbursing providers for covered services to those entities entering into contracts under
these programs; and
WHEREAS, the Bayou Health plans are responsible for managing medical care and
the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership is responsible for managing behavioral health
care, including payments to hospitals and physicians relative to behavioral health issues; and
WHEREAS, the Bayou Health plans and the Louisiana Behavioral Health
Partnership are paid on a monthly basis for the services they provide to the citizens of the
state; and
WHEREAS, healthcare providers have experienced a multitude of issues with claims
and payment denial from both the Bayou Health plans and the Louisiana Behavioral Health
Partnership, regarding the payments to hospitals and physicians, under the assertion that the
responsibility falls within the scope of another contractor; and
WHEREAS, healthcare providers have rendered services and expended resources in
providing care, and lack of payment of these covered services negatively impacts these
providers and their ability to provide future care to all patients; and
WHEREAS, continuing delays only serve to exacerbate the negative financial
impacts to healthcare providers and access to care for all residents of the state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to facilitate the processing and
payment of Medicaid claims. SCR NO. 166 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DHH develop, implement, and publish a plan
to rectify the issues that exist with processing and payment of all affected claims in an
expeditious and expedient manner by no later than August 1, 2014.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of DHH shall develop, implement,
and publish a plan to clarify the future payment process of claims billed to the Bayou Health
program or to the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership, with regard to payments made
to hospitals and physicians relative to behavioral health issues, addressing issues that have
been identified to date with the processing and payment of claims, no later than August 1,
2014.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES