SB 174: PUBLIC HEALTH: Provides relative to certain pregnancy screenings. (gov sig) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note) - Louisiana

SB174 Original → SB174 Act 437 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands HIV and syphilis screening requirements from licensed physicians to all healthcare providers, including nurse practitioners and midwives. It mandates testing at the first prenatal visit and again in the third trimester, regardless of prior testing, and adds requirements for chlamydia and gonorrhea screening. The law also introduces new mandates for screening pregnant women for substance use disorder and prohibits insurance companies from requiring prior authorization for these specific tests.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of providers required to perform testing from physicians only to include nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and midwives. It also expands the scope of required tests to include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and substance use disorder.

REQUIREMENT

Expanded the list of required blood tests for pregnant women to include chlamydia and gonorrhea screening at the first prenatal visit.

Added a mandatory requirement for healthcare providers to screen all pregnant women for substance use disorder using validated tools.

Mandated that HIV and syphilis testing be offered during the third trimester regardless of whether the patient was tested earlier in the pregnancy.

Prohibited health insurance issuers and managed care organizations from requiring prior authorization or imposing utilization management requirements for these prenatal screenings.

ELIGIBILITY

Extended the legal obligation to order and perform these tests from licensed physicians to all licensed healthcare providers, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and midwives.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'healthcare provider' to include nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and midwives for the purposes of this act.

SB174 Enrolled → SB174 Original · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered and its title was simplified to focus on HIV and syphilis screening, removing references to chlamydia, gonorrhea, and substance use disorder from the main act. The core requirements for blood testing remain largely the same, but the language regarding consent was updated to explicitly state that consent is implied unless the patient declines. The definition of who can order these tests was expanded to include additional medical professionals beyond just physicians.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing chlamydia, gonorrhea, and substance use disorder screenings from the main legislative text, though the original enrolled version included these provisions.

REQUIREMENT

Consent language was updated to clarify that patient consent for blood tests is implied unless the woman explicitly declines the testing.

ELIGIBILITY

The list of professionals authorized to order blood tests was expanded to include other licensed medical professionals acting within their scope of practice, not just physicians.

SCOPE

Provisions requiring screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and substance use disorder were removed from the main act text.

TECHNICAL

The bill was renumbered from SB 174 to SLS 25RS-362 and the title was shortened to focus specifically on HIV and syphilis.

SB174 Reengrossed → SB174 Enrolled · 5 edits · Jun 20, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was formally enrolled and expanded its authorship to include a representative. Substantively, the bill was reorganized to clarify that HIV and syphilis blood tests must be offered to all pregnant women during labor or delivery, regardless of prior testing, while also mandating chlamydia and gonorrhea screening. Additionally, a new requirement was added to screen pregnant women for substance use disorder using validated tools.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified to ensure universal offering of specific blood tests during labor and delivery, and a new scope was added regarding substance use disorder screening.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for offering HIV and syphilis blood tests during labor and delivery was restructured to apply regardless of whether the patient was already tested in earlier trimesters, ensuring no pregnant woman is missed during delivery.

A new mandate was added requiring healthcare providers to screen all pregnant women for substance use disorder using validated verbal tools during the first trimester or initial examination.

New provisions require healthcare providers to refer pregnant women to treatment if they are determined to be at risk for substance use disorder after screening.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'healthcare provider' was updated to explicitly include licensed physician assistants and nurse practitioners alongside physicians and midwives.

TECHNICAL

The bill was transitioned from a reengrossed draft to an enrolled version, and the list of co-authors was expanded to include Representative Chassion.

SB174 Engrossed → SB174 Reengrossed · 5 edits · Jun 4, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was reengrossed to add testing requirements for chlamydia and gonorrhea at the first prenatal visit and to require physicians to offer third-trimester testing for HIV and syphilis regardless of prior screening. It also clarifies that these tests are covered services without prior authorization and expands the definition of who can perform the screening.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include mandatory testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea and clarified the requirements for HIV and syphilis testing throughout pregnancy.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement to test pregnant women for chlamydia and gonorrhea at their first prenatal visit.

Modified the HIV and syphilis testing requirement to ensure it is offered in the third trimester regardless of whether a sample was taken earlier, removing the exception for patients who do not disclose recent risk activities.

Added a requirement for healthcare providers to offer third-trimester testing to those not previously screened.

Clarified that all testing under this section is a covered service and prohibited from requiring prior authorization or utilization management.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'healthcare provider' to include licensed or certified midwives.

PUBLIC HEALTH: Provides relative to certain pregnancy screenings. (gov sig) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

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