Requests the Department of Health and Hospitals to seek a Medicaid state plan amendment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to include as a Medicaid service the Tdap vaccine to pregnant women and to provide a cost analysis to the legislature for providing this Medicaid service.
Impact
If enacted, SCR62 could significantly impact Louisiana's Medicaid program by expanding its services to include vaccines that are crucial for protecting vulnerable populations, particularly infants. The proposed measure highlights the necessity of preventative healthcare for pregnant women, with the intent of increasing vaccination rates among family members who could spread the disease to infants. Such an amendment could enhance public health efforts by lowering the risk of pertussis outbreaks within communities, ultimately saving lives and reducing healthcare costs associated with treating the disease.
Summary
SCR62, proposed by Senator Mills and Representative Barrow, is a resolution urging the Department of Health and Hospitals to seek a state plan amendment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The goal is to include the Tdap vaccine for pregnant women as a covered Medicaid service. This move is aimed at improving healthcare access for pregnant women and subsequently decreasing incidences of pertussis, a highly contagious disease that poses serious risks to newborns. With rising pertussis cases being reported in Louisiana, there is a clear impetus for this resolution to address a significant public health concern.
Sentiment
The sentiment surrounding SCR62 is broadly supportive, particularly among public health advocates and health officials who recognize the benefits of increasing vaccination rates during pregnancy. There is an acknowledgment of the pressing need to protect newborns from pertussis, leading to a general consensus that this resolution is a constructive step towards that goal. However, as with any governmental healthcare policy, there could be debates regarding funding and resource allocation, although these aspects are not the focal point of the discussions so far.
Contention
While the resolution is designed to be beneficial, there may be concerns surrounding the funding for this expanded service through the Medicaid program. Critics could potentially argue about the budgetary implications and whether the state can afford to provide additional services at this time. Nonetheless, the proponents argue that the long-term benefits of preventing pertussis in infants far outweigh the initial costs incurred by implementing the vaccine's coverage.
Authorizes and directs the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals to submit a Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Urging the Department of Human Services of the Commonwealth to submit a state plan amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide reimbursement for emergency medical services for the nontransport of Medicaid patients, and urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to expeditiously review and approve the state plan amendment submitted by the Department of Human Services.
Requesting The Department Of Health And Department Of Human Services To: Jointly Review Any Research Applied Behavior Analysis For Adults; Develop And Adopt Rules, Policies, And Plan Amendments Necessary To Ensure That The State Medicaid Program Covers Medically Necessary Services, Including Applied Behavior Analysis Services, For Individuals Aged Twenty-one And Older With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Including Autism Spectrum Disorder; And Apply For Any Necessary Approvals From The Federal Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services To Amend The State Medicaid Plan To Provide Reimbursements For Medically Necessary Services, Including Applied Behavior Analysis Services, To Medicaid-eligible Persons Over The Age Of Twenty-one Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Requesting The Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services To Increase The Monetary Compensation Received By Health Care Workers Whose Positions And Services Are Funded Under The Medicare Program.
Directs the Department of Health and Hospitals to submit a Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services designed to protect Medicaid and uninsured services being delivered and complement existing upper payment limit funding programs.
Requesting The Department Of Human Services To File A Request With The Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services To Amend The State's Existing Section 1115 Demonstration Program To Implement A Housing And Health Opportunities Demonstration Program To Enable Direct Housing Costs For Medicaid Recipients To Be Covered By The Federal Financial Participation For Medicaid.
Requesting The Department Of Human Services To File A Request With The Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services To Amend The State's Existing Section 1115 Demonstration Program To Implement A Housing And Health Opportunities Demonstration Program To Enable Direct Housing Costs For Medicaid Recipients To Be Covered By The Federal Financial Participation For Medicaid.
Requests the Department of Health and Hospitals to develop a plan for the creation of a demonstration program to coordinate and integrate the health care for an individual eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Department for Medicaid Services to request guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for Medicaid coverage on prescription digital therapeutics in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.