Bill > SB96

This bill establishes a new requirement for the Louisiana Department of Health to reimburse Medicaid providers for mental health partial hospitalization program services provided at licensed freestanding inpatient psychiatric hospitals, specifically mandating that these providers be reimbursed at 100% of Medicare rates. The implementation of these reimbursement rates is contingent upon either legislative appropriation of funds or the Louisiana Department of Health secretary notifying the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget that sufficient funds are available within the existing budget. The bill is subject to federal approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with a provision that if the governor vetoes the bill and the legislature subsequently approves it, the effective date will be the day after legislative approval or July 1, 2025, whichever is later. This legislation aims to improve access to and financial sustainability of mental health partial hospitalization services by ensuring providers receive full Medicare reimbursement rates.