Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 195: HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to the administration of medications. (8/1/26)

SB 195, the "Danny's Dose EMS Treatment Act," allows licensed EMTs, advanced EMTs, and paramedics to administer a patient's own time-critical prescription medications during emergencies. It specifically applies to patients with rare diseases, chronic illnesses, or special medical needs who request it, using only intranasal, intravenous, or intramuscular medications. The bill establishes commission protocols for this practice and grants immunity from liability for EMTs unless gross negligence occurs. This directly affects emergency medical personnel and patients requiring immediate access to their prescribed medications outside standard hospital settings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows EMTs to administer patients' own critical meds in emergencies, improving access for chronic/special needs patients without new prescriptions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 275: HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE: Provides for reimbursement rates of services provided by CRNAs within their lawful scope of practice. (1/1/27)

SB 275 requires Louisiana health insurers to reimburse certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) at the same rate as physicians for identical services performed within a CRNA's scope of practice, regardless of billing codes. It also prohibits insurers from denying CRNAs network inclusion solely based on their provider type or licensure. The law applies to new insurance policies issued on or after January 1, 2027, and existing policies must comply by January 1, 2028. This directly affects insurers, CRNAs, and patients seeking anesthesia services covered under these plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires equal reimbursement for CRNAs vs. physicians and prohibits network exclusion, improving access to anesthesia services and protecting provider rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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

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 6, 2026

HCR 76: HEALTH CARE: Continues the Health Inequities and Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force

This bill creates the Health Inequities and Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force to study health issues in Louisiana's rural communities and develop strategies to improve care. The task force will be made up of representatives from nursing, medical, hospital, and patient advocacy groups, along with state health officials. Its main duties include identifying causes of health gaps, exploring ways to reduce provider shortages, and studying how technology like telehealth can help rural residents access care. The group must submit a written report to the House and Senate health committees by February 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a task force to study rural health inequities and develop strategies to improve care and reduce provider shortages.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly studies how technology like telehealth can help address rural health inequities, indicating a supportive stance toward digital health solutions.65% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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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

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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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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

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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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