Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 40, § 2009.21. Mandatory screening of nursing home Medicaid patients with mental illness or developmental disabilities; implementation, review

A. Public Law 100-203 establishes mandatory preadmission screening and resident review requirements for nursing care (other than ICF-DD) provided under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.  1 Section 1919(b)(3)(F) of the Social Security Act  2 prohibits admission of a mentally ill or mentally retarded Title XIX recipient unless the recipient requires the level of services provided by a nursing facility because of his physical and mental condition as determined by the state mental health authority or state mental retardation or developmental disability authority.

B. The Louisiana Department of Health shall establish rules and regulations to implement the mandatory preadmission and resident review requirements for nursing care (other than ICF-DD) provided under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. Such rules and regulations shall require that the department must make a determination of eligibility with regard to the first level of screening within two working days after a request is submitted to the department. If the department determines that a second level of screening is required to ascertain the mental condition of the applicant, the second level of screening shall be conducted and completed within eight working days after the completion of the first level of screening, and the applicant shall be notified of the agency's determination on the date the screening is completed. If the department fails to comply with the time limits provided for in this Subsection, the applicant shall be deemed eligible under Title XIX for placement in a nursing facility without further delay.

C. The Louisiana Department of Health, office of behavioral health shall be the state mental health authority and state developmental disability authority as provided for in the Social Security Act.