INSURANCE/HEALTH: Prohibits health insurers from taking adverse payment or contracting actions against participating facilities based solely on another provider's network status (EN INCREASE EX See Note)
HB 291 prevents health insurers in Louisiana from penalizing hospitals or clinics (participating healthcare facilities) solely because another provider at that facility - like a doctor or specialist - is dropped from the insurer's network. The bill directly affects healthcare facilities that coordinate patient care with multiple providers, ensuring they won’t face payment cuts or contract terminations due to a partner provider’s network status. Key provisions ban insurers from reducing payments or ending agreements with facilities based on another provider’s network exclusion, and require that any contract clauses attempting to override this rule are void. This policy change aims to stabilize provider relationships and care continuity for patients.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 24, 2026
Signed Jun 8, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB291 Original
→
HB291 Act 791
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill formally enacted into law a provision prohibiting health insurers from penalizing participating healthcare facilities based on the network status of other providers involved in a patient's care. The change converts a draft proposal into an official act, adding standard legal language regarding effective dates and gubernatorial approval while retaining the core protection against discriminatory payment reductions or contract terminations.
Scope change
The scope of the bill's substantive policy remains unchanged; it continues to apply to health insurance issuers and licensed healthcare facilities in Louisiana.
TECHNICAL
Updated the document header and title to reflect that the bill has been enrolled and signed into Act No. 791.
Added standard statutory language specifying the effective date upon gubernatorial signature or expiration of the veto period.
Included official signatures and approval blocks from the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, and the Governor.
Floor votes · Senate May 25, 2026 · House Apr 14, 2026
How they voted
39–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
May 25, 2026
D
Democratic12
91% Yea
R
Republican28
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
6
Committee
7
May 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read by title, roll called, yeas 98, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
lower
May 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
May 19, 2026
Committee
Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
Apr 29, 2026
Committee
Read by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
upper
Apr 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 103, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (13-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Insurance.
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Insurance.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Stephanie Berault
RRepublican
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about HB 291
Scope: LA
Hi! I can help you understand HB 291. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline