SSHB643 4300 3734
HOUSE SUMMARY OF SENATE AMENDMENTS
HB 643 2023 Regular Session Horton
CHILDREN/NEWBORNS: Provides relative to cytomegalovirus (CMV) testing for
newborns
Synopsis of Senate Amendments
1.Requires a healthcare provider to believe it to be in the best interest of the child
to test a newborn for the cytomegalovirus.
2.Requires testing to be considered a medical necessity for the purposes of
insurance coverage.
3.Requires the La. Dept. of Health (LDH) to reimburse all Medicaid providers.
4.Extends the amount of time allotted for LDH to submit payment from 15 days
after the receipt of a claim to 30 days.
Proposed law requires a healthcare provider attending a newborn child to administer
appropriate testing for the cytomegalovirus if the newborn fails the newborn hearing screen
and, in the exercise of professional judgment, the healthcare provider believes that the testing
would be in the best interest of the newborn.
Proposed law provides that any testing for cytomegalovirus provided in accordance with
proposed law shall be considered medically necessary and shall not be denied on the basis
for failing to meet any applicable medically necessary standards or requirements by any
health insurance issuer which otherwise provides coverage for the testing.
Proposed law further requires the La. Dept. of Health (LDH) to provide payment to all
Medicaid providers for the costs incurred as a result of the administration of testing in
accordance with proposed law.
Proposed law provides that payment shall be made by LDH within 30 days of receiving a
claim for payment from a healthcare provider.
Proposed law shall be known and may be cited as "Journie's Law".
(Adds R.S. 40:1086.21)
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