ENROLLED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 189
BY REPRESENTATIVE LYONS
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health to allow nonemergency medical
transportation providers to serve Medicaid enrollees outside of their designated
regions if and when the enrollees need specialized nonemergency medical
transportation services.
WHEREAS, nonemergency, nonambulance medical transportation (NEMT) is a
critical part of the Medicaid program and the provision of Medicaid services in this state;
and
WHEREAS, NEMT services have contributed greatly to the overall health of
Medicaid enrollees as they have allowed such persons access to primary care providers,
pharmacy services, and other forms of healthcare services; and
WHEREAS, currently, there is concern for Medicaid enrollees with specialized
medical needs who live outside of the nonemergency medical transportation service regions;
and
WHEREAS, such persons are unable to access the treatments they need; and
WHEREAS, for enrollees, NEMT provider services are not readily available through
a provider in every enrollee's region; and
WHEREAS, by allowing Medicaid enrollees with specialized medical needs access
to NEMT services, even when they are out of region, the Louisiana Department of Health
can address this concern; and
WHEREAS, the allowance of out-of-region NEMT provider services could benefit
Medicaid enrollees with specialty medical needs and improve the overall efficacy of the
NEMT program and the healthcare system statewide; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Health, Medicaid managed care
organizations, and the respective patient health plans shall determine which providers are
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the best candidates to accommodate those enrollees who are in need of out-of-region NEMT
provider services.
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 allow nonemergency medical transportation providers to serve Medicaid enrollees outside
of their designated regions if and when the enrollees with specialized medical needs are in
need of access to NEMT provider services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Department of Health, Medicaid
managed care organizations, and the respective patient health plans shall be tasked with
authorizing providers to serve out-of-region enrollees to remedy some of the issues where
such special conditions exist.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that authorized NEMT service providers should be
determined based on patient acuity and equipment availability.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Department of Health is hereby
authorized to promulgate administrative rules as necessary to implement the provisions of
this Resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and the director of the Louisiana Managed
Medicaid Association.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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