BCBS Louisiana Billing Guidlines to Change February 2, 2010

The following announcement has been posted in RED on the BCBS of Louisiana provider billing guidelines, online at:  BCBS Louisiana’s Provider Manual.

Updated Billing Guidelines
Please note that new Anesthesia Billing Guidelines will be effective February 2, 2010. Providers will receive advanced notification of the new guidelines and this manual will be updated accordingly.     BCBS Louisiana Provider Manual 2009 Rev1:3, page 42 of 92

It appears that BCBS of Louisiana is prepared to release new billing requirements even before they have completed the contracting with the state’s anesthesia providers. This is a risky proposition since most providers are anxiously awaiting the new contract rates and the proposed provider (MD/CRNA) spit by BCBS of Louisiana. In a recent email from Stacy Musgrove, BCBS Network Development, he indicated that BCBS has pushed back the mailing date for new BCBS anesthesia provider contracts from Juy 1 to August 1.