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Louisiana Medicaid Eligibility Manual Issuing MECs and OSS Payments
Reissued July 21, 2025
Page 1 of J-0000 Replacing September 30, 2024 Revised/added text indicated by underscore
Deleted text indicated by “**”
J-0000 MEDICAL ELIGIBILITY CARDS AND OPTIONAL STATE SUPPLEMENT PAYMENTS
J-100 GENERAL INFORMATION
The Medical Eligibility Card (MEC) is a plastic swipe identification card referred to as “Health Network for Louisiana”. MECs are issued to persons determined eligible for medical assistance. Incorrect eligibility decisions may result in medical eligibility cards being issued to ineligible individuals. In such instances, medical services must be paid totally from State funds.
The monthly Optional State Supplement (OSS) payments are issued to eligible individuals residing in LTC facilities and receiving SSI benefits or meet the criteria for supplemental payments. These funds are designated for the personal care needs of the individual.
J-200 ISSUANCE OF THE MEDICAL ELIGIBILITY CARD
The MEC is issued by the contracted fiscal intermediary based on eligibility information received on the Medicaid Enterprise System (MES)/Recipient file from the Louisiana Medicaid Eligibility Determination System (LaMEDS). The MEC is mailed to the beneficiary within 48 hours (two working days) after receipt of the information. Seven days should be allowed for delivery, as the cards are mailed from out of state.
MECs will automatically be issued to:
● New beneficiaries added to LaMEDS unless the type case does not require an MEC. See J-211, Beneficiaries Who Do Not Receive an MEC.
● Beneficiaries being recertified unless the beneficiary indicates a replacement card is not needed. If the beneficiary indicates that a replacement card is not needed, then the current MEC will be reactivated.
Note: If the beneficiary informs Medicaid that medical services will be required prior to receipt of the MEC, the beneficiary shall be provided with their Medicaid Person ID number.