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Office of Health Insurance

Louisiana Health Care Commission (LHCC)

Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)

HIPAA Quality Management Division

Supplemental Health Products Unit

MNRO Unit


Main phone: (225) 219-4770        Toll Free: (800) 259-5301       Fax: (225) 342-5711
Mailing address: P.O. Box 94214, Baton Rouge, LA 70804

The Office of Health Insurance was created in 1998 to consolidate the regulations of state and federal requirements applicable to commercial and government operated health benefit plans. This Office provides protection to Louisiana consumers, assures continued viability of health benefit plans and determines whether enhancements or modifications are necessary to assure continued compliance. There are five divisions in operation.

Executive Staff

Emma Fontenot, Deputy Commissioner
Phone: (225) 342-1355
elfontenot@ldi.la.gov
Rosalyn Allain, Administrative Assistant
Phone: (225)342-1355
rallain@ldi.la.gov
Carol Fowler Guidry, Assistant Commissioner
Phone: (225) 342-2694
cguidry@ldi.la.gov

 

Louisiana Health Care Commission (LHCC)

Crystal Marchand Campbell, Executive Director
(225) 342-4311
ccampbell@ldi.la.gov

The Louisiana Health Care Commission (LHCC) is a forty six (46) member advisory board to the Commissioner of Insurance on health care issues. The commission examines all health policy developed by the Department of Insurance. The commission makes recommendations to the Commissioner of Insurance on all such policy, as well as makes recommendations for reform of the health care and health insurance systems in Louisiana.

Kristen Kieren, Assistant Director
(225) 219-4772
kkieren@ldi.la.gov
Vanessa Vince, Insurance Specialist
(225) 342-5075
vvince@ldi.la.gov

 

Senior Health Insurance Information Program

Vicki Dufrene, Director
(225) 219-7731
vdufrene@ldi.la.gov

The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) offers specialized services to senior citizens and Medicare beneficiaries. SHIIP offers a wide range of information and materials through the Department of Insurance's toll-free telephone line. To request information, counseling, publications, a speaker for a group or information on becoming a sponsor, you may call (800) 259-5301 to reach a staff person or e-mail vdufrene@ldi.la.gov. To request a publication online, click here.

Gwen Wilcox, Assistant Director
(225) 342-0825
gwilcox@ldi.la.gov
Hollye Comeaux, Trainer/Coordinator/Counselor
(225) 219-6725
hcomeaux@ldi.la.gov
Barbara Gooden, Trainer/Coordinator/Counselor
(225) 219-7732
bgooden@ldi.la.gov
Krista Manzi, Trainer/Coordinator/Counselor
(225) 342-6738
kmanzi@ldi.la.gov
Debra Prejean, Trainer/Coordinator/Counselor
(225) 219-6725
dprejean@ldi.la.gov
Jenny Hall, Counselor
(225) 342-0796
jhall@ldi.la.gov
Pamela Gros, Counselor
(225) 219-6726
pgros@ldi.la.gov

 

HIPAA Quality Management Division

Laura Bryan, Director
(225) 219-9433
lbryan@ldi.la.gov

The HIPAA Quality Management Division administers the operational functions of commercial and government operated health benefit plans in Louisiana.

Quality Management Consumer Affairs Unit

The Quality Management Consumer Affairs Unit provides direct assistance and protection to consumers and health care providers regarding issues which impact health insurance, through complaint investigations and consumer inquires, as well as interaction with federal and state agencies. These issues include benefit coverage, payment of claims and refunds, advertising, marketing, underwriting, changes in coverage, access to managed care providers and covered services, contractual terms and provisions, and policyholder service to assure compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations. Our regulatory authority extends to those major medical health plans, which are fully insured that are delivered and issued by an insurer licensed in this state.

Tangela Byrd, Assistant Director
(225) 342-5972
tbyrd@ldi.la.gov
Desi Rheams, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-4623
drheams@ldi.la.gov
Peggy Myers, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-9692
pmyers@ldi.la.gov
Rhonda King, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-4717
rking@ldi.la.gov
Oneka Hamp, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-4773
ohamp@ldi.la.gov
Darlene Campbell, Insurance Specialist
(225) 342-5575
dcampbell@ldi.la.gov

Quality Management Insurance Contracts and Forms Unit

The Quality Management Insurance Contracts and Forms Unit is responsible for performing detailed analysis and reviews of all health benefit plan filings to assure compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations. Examiners of this unit can assist you with the interpretation of statutes, rules and regulations, filing procedures and fees, and status requests on pending filings. This unit also performs annual surveys and audits to determine the appropriate amount of accident and health insurance premiums subject to HIPAA assessment.

Ricky Shields, Assistant Director
(225) 219-4776
sshields@ldi.la.gov
Shad Price, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-219-0633
sprice@ldi.la.gov
Alecia Johnson, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-0628
ajohnson2@ldi.la.gov
Joelle Craft, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-9804
jcraft@ldi.la.gov
Carmelite Luikart, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-9804
cluikart@ldi.la.gov
Carly Williams, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-0773
cwilliams@ldi.la.gov

 

Supplemental Health Products/MNRO Division

Tom Portier, Director
(225) 342-6191
tportier@ldi.la.gov

Supplemental Health Products Unit

The Supplemental Health Products Unit is responsible for performing detailed analysis and review of all Medicare supplemental benefit plan filings to assure compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations. This unit is also responsible for the review and approval of all limited benefit plan filings to assure compliance with all state filing procedures. Examiners assist with the interpretation of statutes, rules and regulations, filing procedures and fees, status requests on pending filings as well as answer inquiries and conduct investigations of consumer complaints relative to limited benefit and supplemental health insurance products. These include but are not limited to the following:

  • Cancer/Dread Disease Policies
  • Champus Supplements
  • Dental Policies
  • Hospital Indemnity
  • Medicare Advantage (HMOs)
  • Medicare Select
  • Medicare Supplements
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Vision Policies
Carmen Breaux, Assistant Director
(225) 219-4777
cbreaux@ldi.la.gov
Jason Sloper, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-9926
jsloper@ldi.la.gov
Janet Lovette, Insurance Technician
(225) 342-6342
jlovette@ldi.la.gov
Jerri McClendon, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-9526
jmcclendon@ldi.la.gov

 

MNRO Unit

The MNRO Unit assures compliance by Medical Necessity Review Organizations by requiring uniform standards for such organizations, specifically internal and external grievance procedures to appeal adverse medical necessity determinations, so that all health plans follow the same standards in resolving disputes. This unit also assures compliance by all health insurance issuers in following procedures and timeframes for the payment of health services, standards for the credentialing of providers by health insurance issuers, as well as standards regarding notices and disclosures outlined in the Health Care Consumer Billing and Disclosure Protection Act of 2003.

Cheryl Gordon, Assistant Director
(225) 219-9524
cgordon@ldi.la.gov
Cindy Gehling, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-8799
cgehling@ldi.la.gov
Jodi LeSage, Insurance Specialist
(225) 219-8769
jlesage@ldi.la.gov