A.  In accordance with the authority granted in La. Rev. Stat. 36:254(A)(6)(a), the department is hereby authorized to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, for any approval necessary to implement the provisions of this Chapter.

B.  In the event approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is not attained to implement this Chapter, the department shall implement elements of this Chapter that are feasible and within the state’s current authority.

C.  Prior to submission of any waiver application or state plan amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to effect the provisions of this Chapter, the department shall submit the waiver plan or the proposed state plan amendment to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare and the House Committee on Health and Welfare, meeting jointly, for review and approval.  If approved by the committees on health and welfare, the waiver plan or the proposed state plan amendment and cost estimates for a minimum of five years shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget for review and approval.  If the waiver plan or the proposed state plan amendment is approved by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, the department shall submit the waiver application or the state plan amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for approval.

Acts 2007, No. 243, §1.