La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § V-13705

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section V-13705 - Billing and Payment Procedures

A. The fees shall be billed to the submitter as follows.

1. A submitter who meets the definition of a billable submitter and wishes to contract with the Division of Laboratories (DOL) to provide one or more of the laboratory tests described in the fee schedule should contact the health laboratory director or the health laboratory assistant director at (504) 568-5373 or in writing at Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160.

2. A contract stating the tests and associated fees to be charged will be signed by both parties and an account number assigned. The submitter will be issued a Laboratory Submission Manual by the DOL and may begin submitting specimens and samples following approved DOL procedures and lab submittal forms. The submitter must place the account number on all lab forms when requesting analysis.

3. Billing will be done on a monthly basis. The Division of Laboratories will submit an invoice of fees for laboratory services by the fifteenth each month for each separate account. The invoice shall describe the analysis performed, the date of analysis, date of report, the fee per test and the total charge for current services rendered. Past due amounts will be added to the current charges and the extended total provided.

4. The customer will remit payment by check within 30 days of the billing date. Checks will be made out to the Office of Public Health and mailed to Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. When the checks are received they will be credited to the appropriate account number by staff in the Division of Laboratories. A roster of checks by number and account will be generated. The checks and the accompanying check roster will be transferred to the Fiscal Office of DHH at 1001Howard Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112 for final processing within the state system.

5. If payment is not received within 30 days of the billing date, the DOL will issue a past due letter. The customer must respond in writing or by telephone if a discrepancy exists. Otherwise, payment by check to cover the overdue amount on the statement must be made within 30 days of the date of the past due letter.

6. If the customer does not respond or payment is not received within 30 days, the account will be turned over to the OPH Fiscal Services Department and future laboratory services will be discontinued until full payment is made.

7. If the customer does not respond to the collection agency and payment is not received within 90 days of the transfer of the account to the collection agency then the account will be turned over to the DHH Bureau of Legal Services for action.

8. The DOL will engage the services of a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) to oversee the ongoing collection of fees and to audit the system on an annual basis.

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § V-13705

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 24:948 (May 1998).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 40:29.