CMS Will Reimburse Louisiana For Prenatal Care

Prenatal Care

CMS will reimburseLouisiana for 80% of the costs of providing prenatal care to noncitizenpregnant women through SCHIP, according to agency spokesperson MaryKahn, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports (Shuler, Baton Rouge Advocate, 11/15). The state expanded LaCHIP,its version of SCHIP, earlier this year, and since July, it hasprovided prenatal care to about 1,061 noncitizens. The expansion cost$3.17 million during the first three months.

Kahn had saidthat Louisiana's spending on care for pregnant noncitizens is "notreimbursable," adding that labor and delivery is the "only coverage"available for noncitizen pregnant women (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 11/15).

However,on Wednesday, Kahn said that while a noncitizen pregnant woman is noteligible for SCHIP coverage, "the fetus is eligible for servicesrelated to the pregnancy." According to Kahn, the state can receivefederal reimbursement for prenatal care, but no other medical care forpregnant noncitizen women is reimbursable unless a physician certifiesthat it could affect the fetus.

Louisiana Department of Health and HospitalsSecretary Roxane Townsend said CMS approved the LaCHIP expansion inApril, and Texas and Arkansas have received federal approval forsimilar expansions. A similar request by Oklahoma is pending (BatonRouge Advocate, 11/16).

Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. Youcan view the entire Kaiser DailyHealth Policy Report, search the archives, and sign up for email deliveryat kaisernetwork.org/email. The Kaiser Daily HealthPolicy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The HenryJ. Kaiser Family Foundation.