SLS 21RS-429 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 176
BY SENATOR MCMATH
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
MEDICAID. Provides relative to the Louisiana Medical Assistance Program. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 46:450.4, relative to the Louisiana Medical Assistance Program; to provide
3 for Medicaid reimbursement paid to health care providers for COVID-19 testing; to
4 provide for reimbursement under the Louisiana Medical Assistance Program; to
5 provide for claim and billing procedures; to provide for separate reimbursement for
6 COVID-19 testing; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 46:450.4 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง450.4. COVID-19 testing; reimbursement
10 A. The Louisiana Medical Assistance Program shall reimburse Medicaid
11 claims of health care providers performing clinical diagnostic laboratory tests
12 for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 or the diagnosis of the virus that causes
13 COVID-19 in an amount no less than what is paid pursuant to the Medicare
14 Part B Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and any applicable guidance issued by
15 the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.
16 B. The Louisiana Medical Assistance Program shall recognize and pay
17 for the use of all codes Medicare utilizes for the use of high-throughput
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 176
SLS 21RS-429 ORIGINAL
1 technologies and shall pay for all claims for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests
2 for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 or the diagnosis of the virus that causes
3 COVID-19 in addition to any case rate or per diem associated with other health
4 care services being provided in conjunction with the performance of clinical
5 diagnostic laboratory tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 or the diagnosis of
6 the virus that causes COVID-19.
7 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
8 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
9 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
10 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
11 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.
DIGEST
SB 176 Original 2021 Regular Session McMath
Proposed law requires the Louisiana Medicaid program to reimburse health care providers
for performing clinical diagnostic COVID-19 laboratory tests. Reimbursement must be at
least what is reimbursed by the Medicare Part B Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and any
applicable guidance issued by the CMS.
Proposed law requires the Louisiana Medical Assistance Program to recognize and pay for
the use of all codes Medicare utilizes for COVID-19 testing and reimburse the health care
provider for the test in addition to the case rate or per diem associated with other health care
services being provided at the same time.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 46:450.4)
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.