Healthcare

passed · Louisiana · House May 5, 2026

HB 1217: HEALTH: Provides with respect to pharmacy benefit managers

This bill strengthens oversight of pharmacy benefit managers in Louisiana by establishing a $1 million civil penalty for violations of the law. It creates a new state fund to finance a transparency portal that publishes manager data, a restitution system for harmed individuals, and grants to support independent and rural pharmacies. The legislation also authorizes money from this fund to help consumers navigate prescription drug benefits and aims to lower drug costs for residents.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens pharmacy oversight, creates a transparency portal, funds rural pharmacies, and aims to lower drug costs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

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

Track

passed · Louisiana · House May 5, 2026

HB 897: HEALTH: Provides relative to protecting healthcare data

HB 897 protects patient healthcare data for participants in Louisiana's Pregnancy and Baby Care Initiative. It requires healthcare providers (general contractors and subcontractors) to obtain written consent before sharing any identifiable health information, provide clear privacy notices explaining what data will be shared and with whom, and offer an easy way for patients to revoke consent. Providers must also give patients free access to their records within 10 business days. Violations could lead to contract termination by the Department of Children and Family Services, following standard state procedures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patient data rights through consent requirements, privacy notices, and record access, directly advancing healthcare privacy protections per topic indicators.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires written consent for health data sharing, privacy notices, and patient access to records - directly strengthens data privacy protections in healthcare technology systems.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · Louisiana · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 1030: MEDICAID: Provides relative to nonemergency medical transportation for individuals with mental illness (RE NO IMPACT See Note)

This bill allows mental health institutions in Louisiana to provide nonemergency medical transportation for their Medicaid patients using their own vehicles or contracted providers. It establishes that these transportation services will be reimbursed through Medicaid at the same rates as standard nonemergency medical transportation, with managed care organizations required to pay at least those rates directly to the institutions. The law specifically limits transportation to trips related to psychiatric services, such as admission, discharge, or travel between the institution and a patient's home, while excluding other medical services like dental or pharmacy visits. Institutions must still follow all existing state and federal safety and operational requirements for vehicles and drivers. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid transportation services for mental health patients, improving access to care and funding institutional transportation at standard rates.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · Louisiana · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 774: INSURANCE/HEALTH: Provides relative to insurance coverage for hearing aids (EG1 INCREASE GF EX See Note)

HB 774 requires health insurance companies in Louisiana to cover hearing aids for children under 18 and young adults up to age 26 who are already covered under their insurance policy. The bill mandates that coverage must be provided by a licensed audiologist or hearing aid specialist after a physician's medical clearance and a medically appropriate audiological evaluation. This change applies directly to insured individuals in these age groups and overrides previous insurance coverage limitations (R.S. 22:1047). The law ensures that hearing aid coverage is tied to medical necessity and professional evaluation, rather than being excluded under standard policy terms.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for hearing aids in children/young adults, expanding access to a health service per bill requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track