New Medicaid Paper Claims Billing Manual available online. In preparation for the Mississippi Division of Medicaid's (DOM) transition to a new Fiscal Agent effective Oct. 3, a newly developed Paper Claims Billing Manual, produced by Gainwell Technologies, is available on the is available on the DOM website. 

The Paper Claims Billing Manual is designed to offer guidance and assistance to providers submitting claims for reimbursement to DOM, including detailed information specific to the submission of paper claims. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Conduent pharmacy point-of-sale claims system to shut down on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, as part of Fiscal Agent transition – Mississippi Division of Medicaid. Contact Medicaid for any questions you may have. 

Also in Mississippi, the Mississippi Public Health Institute would like your input regarding planned opioid-related training for healthcare providers. This survey should take approximately 3 minutes to complete. Responses will be disconnected from any identifying information provided prior to the analysis of survey results. This survey was developed for needs assessment only and does not meet the definition of human research.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Effective July 1, 2022, the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) reestablished payment methods for the ingredient costs of prescription drugs that existed prior to the July 1, 2021 rate freeze. This change removed the freeze for dates of service on or after July 1, 2022. On 8/22/2022, Conduent will begin adjusting claims with dates of service of 7/1/2021 through 6/30/2022 to reflect the ingredient cost of the drug in effect on the claim's date of service. 

Also in Mississippi, the Pharmacy Association will hold its 2022 Consultant Seminar on October 13, 2022, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please visit their website for more information or Contact Mindy Phillips at mindy@mspharm.org if you have any questions or need assistance. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) is in the process of implementing a new Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) – which will include a new Provider Portal – known as MESA: Medicaid Enterprise System Assistance. The new system, going live at the beginning of October, is being developed by Gainwell Technologies.

Before switching over to the new system, every Medicaid-enrolled provider, clearing house or billing services vendor that currently submits electronic data transactions (for example, filing claims) to DOM must undergo Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) registration and testing with Gainwell Technologies. This process for ensuring the secure transmission of electronic information is required of all states when implementing a new system.

Medicaid providers are asked to identify their designated staff member, someone who is already involved in the submission of claims or other electronic transactions within the current provider portal, and direct them to this page on DOM’s website:

This also applies to any trading partner or billing services vendor that submits claims on behalf of a provider.

The website provides step-by-step instructions and supporting materials on how to register as a trading partner through an online portal and test electronic transactions. Providers are asked to begin this process as soon as time allows.

If providers have any questions about which representatives should be designated to follow these steps, please contact Gainwell’s Help Desk at MS_EDI_Helpdesk@dxc.com.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

As the Mississippi Division of Medicaid's (DOM) transitions to a new Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS), the Department has announced a series of workshop webinars will be available in August and September to train providers in how to use the new system, MESA: Medicaid Enterprise System Assistance. Details about those webinars and instructions on how to register for them can be found on Gainwell Technology's new Learning Management System (LMS), which is now available online.  

Only current Medicaid-enrolled providers will be able to access the LMS and register for training (the webinars are not intended for CHIP-only providers). To verify your status as a Medicaid provider, you are asked to:  

• Please only send us the current (Conduent/Envision) Medicaid Provider ID Number and email address for the individuals that would like to attend the training to the following: ms_provider.inquiry@mygainwell.onmicrosoft.com. 
• Please include "LMS Registration" in the email subject line. We will use this information to validate your participation in the Mississippi Medicaid program. 
• Once validated we will then send LMS registration instructions which will include the link and registration key for accessing the LMS.  
• The instructions will also include how to sign up for the upcoming workshop webinars in August and September.
• Additionally, there will be Computer Based Trainings (CBTs) available beginning Aug. 1, 2022. We recommend you review these CBTs prior to the MESA go-live date of Oct. 3, 2022. 

Providers can also learn more about MESA and find the latest updates and FAQs on the system implementation on DOM's website.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM), on July 1, 2022, will reestablish payment methods for the ingredient costs of prescription drugs that existed prior to the July 1, 2021 rate freeze. This change will remove the freeze for dates of service on or after July 1, 2022. DOM has been in frequent communication with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding State Plan Amendment 21-0018, which was submitted last year to freeze reimbursement for outpatient drugs in compliance with Senate Bill 2799 as passed during the 2021 Legislative Session. While CMS has not yet taken official action, DOM anticipates CMS will disapprove SPA 21-0018. Once this disapproval is received from CMS, DOM will reprocess fee-for-service claims for prescription drugs with dates of service between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Board of Pharmacy issued a proposed rule on pharmacy shared services as well as proposed amendments to the definitions found in Title 30 Part 3001, which will remove outdated definitions and add new ones to clarify the Board’s regulations. More information on these proposed rules can be found here.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Mississippi Pharmacy Association has an opening on the Executive Committee, a member-at-Large Representative, for which all current MPhA Members may apply. This position is a two-year term and qualifies one to run for Vice President in the next two years if desired. A position on the executive committee is one that helps to guide the business of our organization. Since moving to a part-time Executive Director two years ago, this position also has several responsibilities that will require you to assist with various tasks of running the organization. Please reach out to any of our current Executive Committee members, www.mspharm.org/board or our staff if you have any questions. The deadline for application is March 15, 2022. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Join MPhA for a virtual Last Chance Seminar! This seminar will offer two (2) live CE hours. These hours satisfy the opioid/drugs of abuse required by the Board of Pharmacy. December 12, 2021, 4:00pm – 6:00pm. Click here to register.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.