2024 Value-Add Benefits to Maximize Our Impact on Members’ Health and Lives
Date: 10/31/23
Discontinuing Adult Dental Value-Add and Highlighting Case Management Benefits for Root Causes of Chronic Health Conditions
As part of our mission to transform Louisiana’s health, one person at a time, Louisiana Healthcare Connections provides our members with value-add benefits above and beyond Medicaid coverage. These extra benefits are designed to help healthcare providers close gaps in the health care system and improve the health of their patients.
Over the last two years we have carefully considered how best to maximize the health impact of the value-add benefits we offer.
Adult Dental Services Discontinued, Effective January 1, 2024
We have made a strategic decision to discontinue the adult dental value-add benefit, effective January 1, 2024. Until that time, the current benefit is in effect, and we encourage our members to take advantage of it. Let’s get as many smiles taken care of as we can.
It is important for dental providers to note the end of this coverage; in 2024 Louisiana Healthcare Connections will no longer cover adult dental services.
Value-Add Benefits for Root Causes of Chronic Health Conditions
As part of this multiyear transition, in 2023 we have introduced several new case management benefits tailored to truly transform a member’s health by addressing critical unmet needs. These value-add benefits address the root causes of health conditions that would otherwise go untreated, such as homelessness, food insecurity, and lack of access to transportation. They are available to members in case management with relevant health and social needs.
- Up to 90 days of post-hospitalization housing, social support, and respite care for members experiencing homelessness
- Seven days of delivered healthy meals for members after a hospital stay, with diagnosis of heart failure, diabetes, or high-risk postpartum condition (up to 28 meals per year)
- Repairs and resources to fix health-harming factors in the home, like mold remediation and hypoallergenic bedding for members with asthma
- Home visiting programs to support the health of members who are pregnant
- Alternatives to opioids for treating chronic pain, including expanded therapy services
- Expanded teams of physical and behavioral community health workers
- Extra transportation for social determinant of health needs
Long-Time Value-Add Benefits with No Changes
Additionally, we are continuing to offer important value-add benefits that have been serving members well for many years, including:
- Adult hearing services and hearing aids
- Adult vision services, glasses, and contacts
- Expanded home health services
- Newborn circumcision
- Expanded cell phone benefits under SafeLink
- Rewards for preventive care and healthy behaviors
Transforming Health
We understand some people may be disappointed by the end of the adult dental value add. We are proud of the decade of healthier smiles it produced. And we encourage our members to take advantage of it before the end of the year.
We also share the excitement so many members and providers have expressed about our new case management value-add benefits. We are committed to working with healthcare providers to ensure that our members have access to the care they need to live healthier lives.
This evolution of our benefits aspires to create life-changing impacts for members in dire need, as we seek to transform Louisiana’s health, one person at a time.