SB 387 amends Louisiana law to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), directly affecting PBMs, local pharmacies, health insurers, and patients. It establishes new definitions (like "Maximum Allowable Cost List" and "Effective rate pricing"), requires PBMs to provide transparent compensation and services to enrollees and providers, and creates a private right to sue for violations. The bill also mandates audits of PBM practices, sets penalties for noncompliance, and repeals outdated provisions. These changes aim to increase transparency and accountability in how PBMs handle prescription drug pricing and reimbursements within Louisiana.
HB 211 creates Louisiana's "Homelessness Court Program," establishing specialized court divisions to address homelessness through treatment and support instead of incarceration. It directly affects individuals experiencing homelessness charged with misdemeanors or felonies related to public camping or survival needs, requiring courts to screen eligible defendants for the program. Key provisions include mandatory substance abuse and mental health treatment, housing/job assistance partnerships, and a new criminal penalty for "unauthorized camping on public property" (with exceptions for shelter access). The program aims to reduce recidivism, court workloads, and prison overcrowding by integrating health care, housing, and rehabilitation services under judicial supervision.
HB 775 modifies Louisiana law to expand when minors can consent to medical care without parental permission. It allows minors aged 13-17 to consent to treatment for pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, substance misuse, and certain emergencies (like abuse or neglect), while requiring parental access to medical records. The bill also prohibits schools or facilities from providing preventive care to minors without parental consent and shields healthcare providers from liability for following these rules. It repeals prior provisions that permitted broader minor consent or school-based care without parental involvement. This directly affects minors, parents/guardians, healthcare providers, and schools in Louisiana.
HB 181 authorizes the Louisiana Department of Revenue to share state income tax return data with the legislative auditor exclusively to improve Medicaid program integrity. It specifically permits this data sharing to verify Medicaid eligibility accuracy, detect fraud, and comply with existing Medicaid fraud laws. The bill restricts the use of this data to these three purposes only and requires formal agreements between agencies for data sharing. This affects Medicaid program participants and administrators by enabling targeted fraud prevention through cross-agency data access.
This bill directs the state surgeon general to create a plan for updating Louisiana's informed consent procedures in medical and surgical settings. It specifically aims to address the lack of a current mechanism to review these procedures since the Medical Disclosure Panel last met in 2018. The legislation removes references to vaccinations from the scope and asks the surgeon general to include recommendations for improving the informed consent process.
HB 106 prohibits child day care centers in Louisiana from providing melatonin (a nonprescription sleep aid) to children without written consent from a parent or legal guardian. The law directly affects day care centers and parents/guardians, requiring centers to obtain explicit permission before administering melatonin. Violations carry penalties of up to $1,000 in fines, six months in jail, or both. The bill specifically targets melatonin use in day care settings, not all nonprescription medications. It is currently pending before the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee.
HB 199 extends Louisiana's existing ban on new nursing facilities and additional nursing home beds until July 1, 2032, replacing the previous 2027 end date. This moratorium directly affects nursing facility developers, operators seeking to expand capacity, and communities planning new healthcare infrastructure. The bill modifies a specific statute (R.S. 40:2116.1(B)(1)) to set a new termination date, maintaining the current restriction without exceptions. The key change is simply prolonging the existing policy, with no new requirements or funding mechanisms added.
SB 162 modifies Louisiana's workers' compensation system by changing how disputes over medical treatment decisions are handled. It allows any party disagreeing with a medical director's decision to appeal within 45 days using LWC Form 1008. To overturn a decision, the appealing party must present "clear and convincing evidence" showing the decision violated the law, and only evidence previously reviewed by the medical director can be used in the appeal. This directly affects workers and employers in Louisiana workers' compensation cases involving medical treatment disputes. The bill focuses on streamlining the appeals process for medical treatment decisions under the existing workers' compensation framework.
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.
