Magnolia Pediatrics

02/11/2026

UHC Medicaid update!
We have received a few calls from patients stating that they are unable to choose their doctor as the P*P when switching over to Aetna Better Health. We are aware and we are working with Medicaid. It is still necessary for you to switch to Aetna Better Health prior to 2/14/26. We are able to change the P*P at any time but insurance changes must be done prior to 2/14/26 and at open enrollment in the fall. Please call our office if you have any questions or need clarification.

02/10/2026

If you are looking for somewhere to donate children’s books, we have a Little Library in front of our office. We are in need of books for all ages, particularly older children and teens.

Thanks!!

02/05/2026

Please see the following information from LA Blue regarding insurance scams.

Remind Your Patients to Watch Out for Health Insurance Scams!

Louisiana Blue has recently gotten several reports of scams related to healthcare billing targeting our members and employer groups. The scammer will contact members claiming to represent Louisiana Blue and ask them to submit payment for their premium or a claim, or they will ask to verify payment information. When members or employer groups respond, they are actually sending money to the scammer or giving scammers access to their financial accounts.

Stay alert for health insurance scams and be suspicious of any requests for payments or sharing your financial, health or other sensitive information. Be aware that scammers often will pretend to represent Louisiana Blue or a healthcare provider’s office, and they can be very convincing.

If you get outreach from someone asking about your healthcare coverage or a claim, especially if the person is asking for money or sensitive information, you should make sure it’s a legitimate request before responding.

Tips for Your Patients to Avoid Health Insurance Scams

Trust your gut. If something doesn’t seem right, if you are being pressured to act quickly before having time to think, don’t engage.
Only respond to trusted contacts. Louisiana Blue does not cold call members to ask them for money or health information. If your patients think there is an issue with their healthcare coverage or a payment, they should call Louisiana Blue Customer Service at the number on their ID cards.
Report scams right away. The sooner someone reports a scam, the sooner authorities can respond and prevent more scams or deeper financial losses. Louisiana Blue members can report scams to our Fraud Hotline at 1-800-392-9249. Patients can also report fraud at Tips.FBI.Gov or IC3.Gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).

01/30/2026

Please help us wish Brandy a very Happy Birthday!

01/26/2026

Good Morning! We are fortunate that the icy conditions are better than expected. We will begin seeing patients at 12 today.

01/25/2026

01/23/2026

Please welcome Magnolia Pediatrics' new employees.

01/22/2026

ALL MAGNOLIA PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH A MEDICAID PLAN. UHC MEDICAID IS NO LONGER BEING OFFERED BY THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD TO SWITCH. WE WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTING AETNA BETTER HEALTH (MEDICAID) AFTER 3/31/2026.
If you have an appointment scheduled after 3/31 and have been enrolled in a different plan other than Aetna Better Health, we will not be able to see you. Please be proactive and get your plan switched over now.

THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY OF OUR COMMERCIAL INSURANCE PLANS.

01/15/2026

Please see the message from the Medicaid website regarding UHC Community Plan. For more information you can visit the website at
https://www.ldh.la.gov/medicaid/medicaid2026

The UnitedHealthcare health plan will not be available to Medicaid members beginning April 1, 2026. If UnitedHealthcare is your current plan, you will need to move to a new health plan before that date.

These changes do not impact any Medicaid members’ eligibility.

Health Plan Choice

UnitedHealthcare members have options when it comes to choosing their new plan.

Take no action, and Louisiana Medicaid will assign you to a new health plan. Every attempt will be made to:
keep families together in the same health plan, and
keep members in a health plan that will allow them to see their same doctor.
Choose your new health plan.
Current UnitedHealthcare members will have a special enrollment period from January 15, 2026, to February 15, 2026.
During this time, UnitedHealthcare members can choose their new health plan. To learn about the other health plans, view a comparison chart online.
During the special enrollment period, UnitedHealthcare members can choose their new plan using the options below:
By phone: 1-855-229-6848, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Online: myplan.healthy.la.gov.
Through the Healthy Louisiana app, available on Google Play or the App Store.
All UnitedHealthcare members will stay with UnitedHealthcare until 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2026. On April 1, 2026, they will be moved to their new health plan.

Medicaid members currently on UnitedHealthcare will be moved to a new Medicaid health plan by April 1, 2026.

01/07/2026

Please vote for MAGNOLIA PEDIATRICS as the best of Baton Rouge Pediatric Practice. We are in the Health and Beauty category.

Vote once per day from January 5 through January 23.

01/07/2026

We are excited to announce that Dr. West was chosen as the best Pediatrician for 2025 Best of Ascension Community Choice Award. Thank you to everyone who voted!
Our Magnolia Pediatrics Providers are the BEST!!

01/02/2026

Medicaid Update!
Magnolia Pediatrics and the providers are officially credentialed with Aetna Better Health but are currently being loaded into the system. If you attempt to switch over online and are not seeing your primary provider, know that they should be showing up soon. I spoke with the Aetna representative today.