Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 747: BOARDS/COMMISSIONS: Provides relative to medical psychologists

HB 747 establishes a new licensure pathway for medical psychologists in Louisiana, replacing the previous "certificate of advanced practice" requirement. It requires medical psychologists to meet specific qualifications - including three years of experience, treatment of 100+ patients using medications like antidepressants, and recommendations from collaborating physicians - to obtain an advanced practice license. The bill mandates that patients treated by these professionals must have an established primary care provider overseeing their overall medical care. Licensing fees are set at $325 for initial issuance and $300 for renewal, with provisions for license reinstatement after expiration. The law directly affects medical psychologists seeking licensure and their patients, while eliminating dual licensure requirements with the existing psychology board.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensure pathway for medical psychologists, enabling expanded mental health services access through standardized qualifications and collaboration requirements.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 907: HEALTH CARE/PROVIDERS: Provides civil and criminal immunity for the distribution or use of Naloxone and other opioid antagonists beyond their shelf-life end date

This bill protects healthcare providers and individuals from civil and criminal liability when they distribute or use Naloxone and other opioid reversal drugs even after their labeled expiration dates have passed. It allows people acting in good faith to administer these medications to someone believed to be having an opioid overdose without fear of legal consequences, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Healthcare professionals are also shielded from disciplinary action by licensing boards for actions covered under this immunity, though federally certified facilities must still follow federal rules regarding expired medications. The law defines "shelf-life end date" based on federal labeling requirements and takes effect upon the governor's signature.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces legal barriers to opioid overdose treatment, supporting public health and reducing criminal justice involvement in overdose cases75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects healthcare providers and individuals from liability when administering Naloxone, encouraging overdose response and improving patient safety.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · Louisiana · House May 14, 2026

HB 938: INSURANCE/HEALTH: Provides relative to pharmacy benefit managers (RE +$3,187,173 SG EX See Note)

HB 938 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Louisiana to reimburse pharmacies at the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) plus a standard dispensing fee for all prescriptions, regardless of whether the pharmacy is independent or affiliated with the PBM. It prohibits PBMs from retaining rebates from drug manufacturers, mandating that all rebates be passed through to health plan sponsors as lower premiums, reduced patient costs, or broader coverage. The bill also limits payment errors to a 2% rate for prescription claims, establishes a formal appeal process for pharmacies disputing underpayments, and grants state regulators access to PBM data for oversight. This directly affects Louisiana pharmacies, PBMs, and health plans by standardizing payments, increasing transparency, and reducing financial disputes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires PBMs to pass rebates to health plans, lowering premiums/patient costs and mandating fair pharmacy reimbursement, directly improving patient access and reducing drug costs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Louisiana · House May 5, 2026

HB 689: SNAP/FOOD STAMPS: Provides relative to public assistance benefits for children (RE SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 689 requires Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to report within 72 hours when a child enters or leaves foster care custody to the Louisiana Department of Health. This ensures the health department can immediately adjust public assistance benefits for parents if a child is no longer living in their household - such as SNAP (food stamps), WIC, or FITAP benefits - and update Medicaid coverage for the child. The bill directly affects parents receiving benefits and children in foster care by streamlining benefit adjustments based on custody changes. It also mandates fraud investigations if individuals fail to report such changes, ensuring benefits align with current household circumstances.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures timely Medicaid and public benefit adjustments for children in foster care, maintaining healthcare access and preventing coverage gaps for affected families.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 902: HEALTH: Provides relative to the creation of a trauma-informed training program (EG +$210,433 GF EX See Note)

This bill makes minor formatting and punctuation adjustments to a larger legislative text regarding a trauma-informed training program. The changes include capitalizing the word "Domestic," adding a comma after "teachers," and inserting the word "or" at the end of a line. These amendments do not alter the substantive policy content but instead correct the text for consistency and clarity. The bill directly affects the administrative drafting of the legislation rather than introducing new operational requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes trauma-informed training program for healthcare professionals, improving mental health support and patient care quality85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Louisiana · House Apr 13, 2026

HB 780: WORKERS COMPENSATION: Provides relative to penalties and attorney fees for nonpayment, discontinuance of payment, or failure to consent for a medical treatment for workers' compensation claims, controversion of benefits, and preliminary determination hearings

HB 780 strengthens protections for Louisiana workers by imposing penalties on employers or insurers who delay or deny workers' compensation payments or medical treatment. It sets daily penalties of up to $50 (capped at $2,000 per claim) or 12% of unpaid benefits, plus attorney fees, unless the delay was reasonable. Employers must send specific written notices within 3 business days when modifying benefits and respond to employee payment demands within 7 business days to avoid penalties. Total penalties at a hearing are capped at $8,000, and attorney fees from penalty cases are exempt from standard fee limits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill imposes penalties for denying/delaying medical treatment in workers' comp, strengthening access to health services and protecting patient rights for injured workers.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentImposes penalties on employers delaying workers' comp payments/medical treatment, strengthening worker protections per bill summary95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Louisiana · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 919: INSURANCE/HEALTH: Provides relative to pharmacy benefit managers (RE +$238,163 SG EX See Note)

HB 919 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Louisiana to reimburse pharmacies at least the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) plus the state's professional dispensing fee per prescription, with a minimum $12 per prescription. It prohibits PBMs from owning or contracting with pharmacies (including subsidiaries) and mandates annual transparency reports detailing foreign subsidiaries and financial arrangements with drug manufacturers. PBMs violating these rules face fines up to $100,000 per violation for executives, with unlimited liability for large PBMs ($500M+ revenue). The law applies retroactively to prescriptions filled between January 1, 2025, and December 1, 2025, and becomes fully effective for new requirements in 2027. These provisions directly affect pharmacies, pharmacists, and PBMs operating in Louisiana.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires fair PBM reimbursement to pharmacies, prevents conflicts of interest, and mandates transparency to ensure medication access and affordability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Louisiana · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 469: PHARMACISTS: Provides relative to the pharmacy education support fee collected by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy

HB 469 establishes a $100 annual optional "pharmacy education support fee" for pharmacists and pharmacies renewing licenses or permits in Louisiana. Pharmacists and pharmacies can choose whether to pay the fee or select a specific public university pharmacy school (like Xavier University) to receive it, with the option to opt out entirely. Funds collected must supplement, not replace, existing university funding for pharmacy education programs. The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy will distribute payments to chosen schools by April 1 each year, ensuring the money directly supports pharmacy education initiatives at public universities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes $100 annual fee to fund pharmacy education programs, supplementing existing university funding for pharmacy schools like Xavier University.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds pharmacy education programs to support healthcare workforce development, advancing medical professional training under healthcare topic.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Louisiana · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 182: NURSES: Provides relative to victims of sexual assault (EG +$4,000,000 LF See Note)

HB 182 requires all licensed hospitals and healthcare providers in Louisiana to ensure a qualified healthcare professional (such as a physician or sexual assault nurse examiner) is available during operating hours to provide forensic examinations and treatment to sexual assault survivors. It mandates that facilities offer survivors information about these services and maintain personnel trained to conduct forensic medical exams. The bill directly affects hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers statewide by setting new standards for their response to sexual assault cases. It defines key terms like "qualified healthcare professional" to clarify who can perform these examinations, aiming to improve access to specialized care for survivors.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates forensic exam access for sexual assault victims, improving evidence collection for criminal cases and aligning with victim support in criminal justice process.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates healthcare providers to offer forensic exams and treatment for sexual assault survivors, improving access to critical health services and protecting patient rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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