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Appointment Accessibility for Your Patients

Date: 04/07/23

Louisiana Healthcare Connections is dedicated to helping providers meet the needs of its members. Below are the appointment accessibility standards put forth by the Louisiana Department of Health. Providers are encouraged to review to be sure to their practice is prepared around the new standards.

Primary Care Appointment Access Standards
Urgent non-emergency care48 hours, Provisions must be available for obtaining urgent care 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Non-urgent sick72 hours
Non-urgent routine primary care6 weeks
After hours, by phoneAnswer by live person or call-back from a designated medical practitioner within 30 minutes

   

Specialty Care Appointment Standards
Speciality appointments1 month
OB 1st Trimester 14 days
OB 2nd Trimester7 days
OB 3rd Trimester 3 days
OB High risk pregnancy, any trimester3 days
OB Family planning appointment1 week
Behavioral Health Appointment/Admission Access Standards
Follow-up routine care prescribersWithin 30 days
Follow-up routine care non-prescribersWithin 20 days
Non-urgent initial routine behavioral health care prescribers/non-prescribersWithin 10 business days
Urgent non-emergency behavioral health care Prescribers/non-prescribers48 hours
on-life-threatening emergencies prescribers/non-prescribersWithin 1 hour
Additional Timely Access Appointments
Emergency CareImmediately upon presentation at the service delivery site. Emergency services must be available at all times.
Lab and X-ray servicesNot to exceed 3 weeks for regular appointments and 48 hours for urgent or clinically indicated
In Office Waiting Times
Scheduled appointmentsLess than a 45 minute wait in the office. If a wait is anticipated to be more than 90 minutes, the patient shall be offered a new appointment.