Capitol Dome Updates 2018

Scope of Practice

Eight bills were designed to authorize independent practice for advanced practice nurses (APRNs). Both the Senate and House Public Health Committee chairs stood firm and contained those bills without allowing them to be considered by the committee. Physicians responded to MSMA’s calls to action and flooded the Capitol with emails and phone calls stressing the quality care provided by a physician led team. 

Immunizations

Medicaid Re-authorization: SB2836

After contentious debate, lawmakers agreed in the final days of the 2018 legislative session on a reauthorization bill for the Division of Medicaid. Commonly called the Medicaid technical amendments bill, the reauthorization bill sets eligibility standards, provider reimbursement rates and the services that will be covered. A summary follows.

•   Requires managed care companies to reimburse providers at or above Medicaid fee-for-service rates.

•   Removes the physician office visit limit and allows the Division of Medicaid to increase the limit.

•   Allows OB-GYNs to be paid 100% of the Medicare allowable rate for primary care services.

• Allows physician-administered drugs to be billed as either a medical claim or a pharmacy claim so the physician does not have to stock items like long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) and injectable anti-psychotic medications.

• Requires the managed care organizations (MCOs) to accept credentialing of providers by the Division of Medicaid and prohibits separate credentialing by the MCO.

• Removes the five-prescription drug limit and allows the Division of Medicaid to increase the limit.

• Clarifies existing authority of the Governor to address revenue deficits and removes the protection that previously capped the amount hospital reimbursement could be reduced.

• Requires more audits and evaluations of the MississippiCAN program.