Emergency Oxygen Equipment and Supplies Policy Clarification (IB24-41)

Date: 10/31/24

Louisiana Healthcare Connecitons is sharing Emergency Oxygen Equipment and Supplies Policy Clarification (IB24-41)External Link provided on October 29, 2024.

Louisiana Medicaid updated the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Provider Manual to clarify DME provider responsibilities related to access to oxygen equipment and supplies during an official state and/or federally declared emergency. The updates to Section 18.1 Services and Limitations and Section 18.4 Provider Responsibilities are located on www.lamedicaid.comExternal Link.

The changes are outlined below:

• Medically necessary backup oxygen and equipment provided during an official state and/or federally declared emergency cannot be considered non-covered.
• Backup oxygen and equipment provided outside an official state and/or federally declared emergency is non-covered.
• Providers are responsible for ensuring that medical oxygen and oxygen-related equipment are available during official state and/or federally declared emergencies, if medically necessary. 
• The Department will not reimburse providers for unused equipment and supplies picked up after an emergency. 

Questions regarding this message and fee-for-service claims are to be directed to Gainwell Technologies at (800) 473-2783 or (225) 924-5040. 

Providers may contact our Provider Services number at 1-866-595-8133 with additional questions.

Louisiana Healthcare Connections will be updating our provider manuals to reflect these changes.