*Editor's note: During Tuesday's regular meeting of the Madison Parish Hospital Service District Board, which occurred after this story was originally submitted for publication in the Thurs., March 2, edition of the Madison Journal, MPH Chief Financial Officer Robert Laurents specifically cited that the hospital's Rural Health Clinic is not currently submitting bills to Medicaid for payment. While this does not necessarily preclude the hospital from treating patients who are dependent on Medicaid, the Madison Journal has made several attempts to receive clarification from hospital leadership regarding the manner in which Medicaid payments are continuing to be billed, per MPH Interim CEO Dr. Donald Perry. The Journal has not, as of yet, received a response.
Madison Parish Hospital (MPH) Interim CEO Dr. Donald Perry said last week MPH patients dependent on Medicaid can rest assured they can still be treated at the hospital and its Rural Health Clinic, despite a suspension last month by state officials.
In a letter sent to the Madison Journal Mon., Feb. 20, Perry said a recent story in the Journal regarding the suspension of the hospital's Rural Health Clinic's ability to bill Medicaid pending allegations of fraud included "factual inaccuracies." Although Perry did not respond to the Journal's request for the specification of any alleged inaccuracies, he said in the letter he felt patients could be led to believe that healthcare is, or soon will be, no longer available at the Rural Health Clinic, adding, "let me assure you and the public that the clinic, which is an essential provider of healthcare in Madison Parish, remains open and is available to accept all patients."
According to a letter sent to Perry and dated January 20, 2023, from the Louisiana Department of Health Bureau of Health Services Financing, the State Medicaid agency “must suspend all Medicaid payments to a provider after the agency determines there is a credible allegation of fraud for which an investigation is pending under the Medicaid program against an individual or entity unless the agency has good cause to not suspend payments or to suspend payment only in part.”
The letter laid out the suspension’s details, explaining it applies only to the RHC and Medicaid, while not affecting Medicare payments, and applies “to all Medicaid claims submitted” adding, “any attempt to avoid this payment suspension action by submitting claims for services performed under this (RHC provider) number through other agencies or other billing numbers shall result in termination.”
The letter came only weeks after then-MPH RHC Medical Director Dr. Thomas Neumann resigned, citing problems with the hospital’s overall leadership and pointing to fraud allegations against Family Nurse Practitioner Latayatacha Ross as an example.
Although no formal charges have been made and January’s letter from LDH did not mention the allegations surrounding Ross, it did stress “the Louisiana Department of Health is not required to disclose any specific information concerning an ongoing investigation.”
In January's letter, LDH specified the Medicaid suspension is for a temporary period, pursuant to Code of Regulations 42, &455.23(c), stating payment suspension would not continue after either of the following: the agency or the prosecuting authorities determine that there is insufficient evidence of fraud by the provider; the legal proceedings related to the provider’s alleged fraud are completed.
LDH also informed Perry in the letter of an appeals process the RHC is entitled to pursue by requesting an informal hearing with LDH in writing within 15 calendar days of receiving the letter.
"The Rural Health Clinic, working with its legal counsel, is availing itself of all appeal rights permitted by law, and is actively working with officials from the Louisiana Department of Health to have the suspension lifted," Perry said in his February letter to the Journal. "The Clinic continues to bill Medicaid and other payers for services rendered, as it is permitted to do."
