ENROLLED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 107
BY REPRESENTATIVE MAGEE
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health to ensure that Medicaid managed
care organizations cover and pay for certain respiratory panels.
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented public health
emergency due to which, as of March, 2021, more than ten thousand Louisianans have lost
their lives; and
WHEREAS, the most effective way to reduce the pandemic's devastation is to
quickly detect and treat COVID-19 and other respiratory infections; and
WHEREAS, because of the pandemic, utilization of respiratory panels increased as
a means of detecting not only the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 but other
potential respiratory infections which might complicate a patient's diagnosis and treatment
options; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Health has recognized the need for the
Medicaid program of this state to cover and pay for laboratory testing for COVID-19 and
other respiratory infections, particularly when the testing utilizes high-throughput
technology; and
WHEREAS, as utilization of respiratory panels increased, certain health insurers,
managed care companies, and other payors began to demand that clinical laboratories accept
reduced reimbursement and to deny coverage of and payment for laboratory tests ordered
by healthcare practitioners after examinations of patients; and
WHEREAS, when ordered by a healthcare practitioner, these respiratory panels
provide a useful and effective means of identifying, quickly treating, and limiting the spread
of serious respiratory infections.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health
to ensure that the Medicaid managed care organizations with which it contracts cover and
pay for, without unnecessary restrictions, respiratory panels that include testing for
SARS-CoV-2 performed by healthcare providers conducting clinical diagnostic laboratory
tests ordered by Louisiana-licensed health professionals for Medicaid beneficiaries for the
detection or diagnosis of respiratory infections.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and to the director of Louisiana Managed
Medicaid Association.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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