1. A. Screening services shall include the screening of pregnant women for:

   1. 1. alcohol use;
   2. 2. tobacco use;
   3. 3. drug use; and/or
   4. 4. domestic violence.
2. B. Intervention services shall include a counseling session, which shall be a minimum of 15-30 minutes in duration, with a health care professional intended to motivate the recipient to develop a plan to moderate or cease their use of alcohol and/or drugs.

3. C. Service Limits. Substance use screening and intervention services shall be limited to one occurrence per pregnancy, or once every 270 days. Pregnant women may also receive up to eight tobacco cessation counseling sessions per year. Limits may be exceeded, based on medical necessity.

   1. 1. If the recipient experiences a miscarriage or fetal death and becomes pregnant within the 270-day period, screening and intervention services shall be reimbursed for the subsequent pregnancy.

4. D. Tobacco Cessation Counseling and Pharmacotherapy. The department shall provide coverage of diagnostic, therapeutic counseling services and pharmacotherapy for the cessation of tobacco use by pregnant women who use tobacco products or who are being treated for tobacco use. Counseling sessions shall be face-to-face with an appropriate health care professional.

   1. 1. Pregnant women may receive four counseling sessions per quit attempt, up to two quit attempts per calendar year. Limits may be exceeded, based on medical necessity. The period of coverage for these services shall include the prenatal period through 12-month postpartum period. Services shall be provided:

      1. a. by or under the supervision of a physician; or

      2. b. by any other health care professional who is:

         1. i. legally authorized to furnish such services under Louisiana state law and is authorized to provide Medicaid coverable services other than tobacco cessation; or
         2. ii. legally authorized to provide tobacco cessation services under Louisiana state law and is designated by the secretary of the department to provide these services.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254 and Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 40:794 (April 2014), amended by the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 46:184 (February 2020), LR 46:954 (July 2020), LR 48:500 (March 2022).