Louisiana § RS 40:1253.1 - Legislative intent

§ RS 40:1253.1. Legislative intent

            A. It is in the best interest of the citizens of the state that the Legislature of Louisiana ensure that the Louisiana Medicaid program is operated in the most efficient and sustainable method possible. With the transition of over two-thirds of the Medicaid eligible population from a fee-for-service based program to a managed care organization based program, it is imperative that there is adequate reporting from the Louisiana Department of Health in order to ensure the following outcomes are being achieved:

            (1) Improved care coordination with patient-centered medical homes for Medicaid recipients.

            (2) Improved health outcomes and quality of care as measured by metrics, such as the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS).

            (3) Increased emphasis on disease prevention and the early diagnosis and management of chronic conditions.

            (4) Improved access to Medicaid services.

            (5) Improved accountability with a decrease in fraud, abuse, and wasteful spending.

            (6) A more financially sustainable Medicaid program.

            B. It is in the best interest of the citizens of the state that the Legislature of Louisiana ensures that the Louisiana Medicaid program, as it relates to recipients with severe mental illness, is operated in the most efficient and sustainable method possible. The transition of the services of the office of behavioral health within the Louisiana Department of Health to a managed care system in which a single statewide management organization operates as a single point of entry to behavioral health services requires adequate reporting from the Louisiana Department of Health in order to ensure the following outcomes are being achieved:

            (1) Implementation of a Coordinated System of Care for youth and their families or caregivers that utilizes a family and youth driven practice model, provision of wraparound facilitation by child and family teams, family and youth supports, and overall management of these services by the statewide management organization.

            (2) Improved access, quality, and efficiency of behavioral health services for children not eligible for the Coordinated System of Care and for adults with severe mental illness and addictive disorders, through management of these services by the statewide management organization.

            (3) Smooth and efficient transition of behavioral health service delivery and operations from a regional based approach coordinated through the office of behavioral health within the Louisiana Department of Health to the use of human service districts or local government entities.

            (4) Seamless coordination of behavioral health services with the comprehensive healthcare system without losing attention to the special skills of the behavioral health professionals.

            (5) Advancement of a resiliency, recovery, and consumer-focused system of person-centered care.

            (6) Implementation of best practices and evidence-based practices that are effective and efficient and are supported by the data collected from measuring outcomes, quality, and accountability.

            (7) The efficient and effective use of state general funds in order to maximize federal funding of behavioral services provided by the Medicaid program.

            Acts 2013, No. 212, §1; Acts 2014, No. 811, §22, eff. June 23, 2014; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1300.361 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.; Acts 2015, No. 158, §1, eff. June 23, 2015.