LASAM Supports Legislation Raising Medicaid Rates for Physician Services
On May 14th, the Louisiana Society of Addiction Medicine (LASAM) sent a letter supporting SB 190 that would raise Medicaid reimbursement rates for physician services, including substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, to members of the House Committee on Health and Welfare. Louisiana has been hard hit by the overdose crisis, and Medicaid is one of the largest payers for behavioral health services, including for SUD treatment. Louisiana's rate of average Medicaid payment is among the lowest of U.S. states, and such low reimbursement rates are a major barrier to improving access to evidence-based SUD treatment. Enacting SB 190 is necessary to put Louisiana on par with other U.S. states and provide SUD treatment to those who need it.