In the state of Louisiana, the Department of Insurance, Office of the Commissioner, has issued a Declaration of Emergency mandating the following: §3309. Telemedicine Provider Access A. Health insurance issuers shall waive any coverage limitations restricting telemedicine access to provider included within a plan’s telemedicine network. B. Health insurance issuers shall waive any requiremen that the patient and provider have a prior relationship in order to have services delivered through telemedicine.AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with Proclamation No. JBE 2020-29.HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Insurance, Office of the Commissioner, LR 46. §3311. Telemedicine Services Coverage A. Health insurance

In a memorandum dated March 17, 2020, the state of Louisiana, Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing, announced “Effective for dates of service on or after March 17, 2020, and for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, Louisiana Medicaid encourages and will reimburse the use of telehealth, when appropriate, for rendering physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy to members. Telehealth can facilitate the continuation or establishment of these services while complying with the need for social distancing”. To read the entire memorandum, click This is a tremendous opportunity for therapists in the state of Louisiana and

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Community Plan is adding 3 states (in addition to the 4 previously announced) that will require prior authorization prior to initiating physical, occupational and/or speech therapy services. In addition, UHC Community Plan is adding site of service medical necessity reviews for all speech, occupational and physical therapy services provided in a hospital outpatient setting in 2 of the 3 states. The new impacted states are

Anthem Blue Cross-Blue Shield has announced they are initiating a new utilization management (UM) program with AIM Specialty Health, a subsidiary of Anthem beginning in 5 states. This program will begin on March 1, 2019 in the states of Indiana, Louisiana, New York and Wisconsin and March 25, 2019 in California. This new UM program will impact all commercial enrollees receiving outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services. AIM has already completed 3 webinars and has 2 more 10-hour webinars planned. The next webinar is February 26, 2019 at 3:00pm ET and the last webinar is on March 20, 2019