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Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals | Bruce Greenstein, Secretary

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Statewide Initiatives

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211 - Get Connected. Get Answers.


Louisiana Medicaid or LaCHIP RecipientsBayou Health is the way most of Louisiana's Medicaid and LaCHIP recipients receive health care services. The State has contracted with five different Health Plans from which you can choose.

 Bayou Health includes two types of Health Plans:

One type is the prepaid model, which includes primary care providers and specialists in network. See the brochures for the three Bayou Health prepaid plans:

As of November 1, 2012, recipients enrolled in the Amerigroup, LaCare or Louisiana Healthcare Connections Bayou Health Plan have their prescription drugs and pharmacy services managed through their Bayou Health Plans. Read more.

The other type is the shared savings model, which includes only primary care providers in network. If you are in one of these Plans and need to see a specialist or other kind of doctor, you can see anyone who takes regular Medicaid. See the brochures for the two Bayou Health shared savings plans:

The Department of Health and Hospitals is working to improve the coverage provided by Medicaid and LaCHIP to:

  • Give you choice in your health care.
  • Provide doctors and other health care professionals to cover the needs of you and your family. Bayou Health Plans will be required to ensure timely access to your doctor and limited waits for appointments.
  • Connect you to a doctor’s office or clinic where your family will go for all health care needs. This is important because:
              o Your doctor gets to know you, your family and your health care needs.
              o Your medical records are all in one place.
              o You will have someone to call anytime for care or advice, even at night or on the weekends.
              o You can get treatment for common medical problems instead of having to visit the ER.

Bayou Health Open Enrollment 2013

Bayou Health members will have an open enrollment period where they can change health plans. The time when you can change plans in open enrollment is based on the Geographic Service Area (GSA) where you live:

GSA A (Greater New Orleans and Northshore areas) - change plans by Jan. 30 to start with your new plan on Feb. 1
GSA B (Capital Area, South Central Louisiana, Acadiana) - change plans by March 27 to start with your new plan on April 1
GSA C (Southwest, Central and North Louisiana) - change plans by May 30 to start with your new plan on June 1

You will have 60 days before your GSA's deadline to switch health plans, and Bayou Health will send you a letter to let you know when your open enrollment time is beginning. After the deadline, you will stay in that health plan for a year. You can request a health plan change at any time if you feel you have a good reason to do so, but you must make this request to Bayou Health directly. For more information about Bayou Health plans, call 1-855-BAYOU-4U.

USEFUL INFORMATION