1. A. Recipients shall have free choice of pharmacy unless subject to the agency’s Lock-In program.

2. B. Lock-in is a mechanism for restricting Medicaid recipients to a specific physician and/or a specific pharmacy provider. The lock-in mechanism does not prohibit the recipient from receiving services from providers who offer services other than physician and pharmacy benefits. The lock-in mechanism:

   1. 1. ensures appropriate use of Medicaid benefits by recipients and/or providers; and
   2. 2. serves as an educational and monitoring parameter in instructing recipients in the most efficient method of using Medicaid services to ensure maximum health benefits.

3. C. A Medicaid recipient who has shown a consistent pattern of misuse or overuse of program benefits may be placed into the lock-in mechanism. Misuse and overuse is a determination made by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing. Misuse and overuse can occur in a variety of ways.

   1. 1. Misuse may take the form of obtaining prescriptions under the pharmacy program from various prescribers and/or pharmacies in an uncontrolled and unsound way.
   2. 2. Misuse may take the form of obtaining prescriptions or the dispersal of prescriptions by fraudulent actions.
4. D. The Bureau of Health Services Financing or its medical designee shall be responsible to determine when a recipient should be enrolled in lock-in.

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, Office of the Secretary, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 32:1056 (June 2006), amended by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 37:3268 (November 2011).