HB 779 allows Louisiana doctors, nurses, and physician assistants to prescribe antibiotics to a patient’s sexual partner for certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis - without requiring a direct exam or doctor-patient relationship with the partner. It requires providers to give the patient a written document to share with their partner, detailing the prescribed treatment. The bill also grants legal protection to healthcare providers who follow these guidelines in good faith. This policy directly affects patients diagnosed with eligible STIs and their partners, aiming to improve treatment access while reducing infection spread.
This bill asks state agencies and law enforcement groups to report on how they are using opioid settlement funds for treatment and prevention programs in correctional facilities. It also requests that the Opioid Abatement Task Force and the Attorney General provide clearer guidance on which expenses are allowed under these funds. The measure aims to address concerns raised in a recent audit that many local areas have not spent their allocated money due to confusion about rules and a lack of available programs. By gathering this information, the state hopes to ensure that the millions of dollars received from opioid lawsuits are used effectively to help incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders.
This bill is a formal request from the Louisiana legislature to the U.S. Congress and federal health agencies to speed up research and clinical trials for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It does not create new laws or change funding directly but instead asks federal officials to prioritize efforts to develop better treatments for this aggressive blood cancer. The resolution also names these proposed research efforts the "Jonas A. Feeley Act" to honor a recent victim of the disease. Ultimately, the measure serves as a symbolic gesture to advocate for increased federal attention on improving survival rates for patients with this condition.
This bill requests the Louisiana Department of Health and Department of Education to create a comprehensive report on the current state of autism support services in Louisiana. The report will examine diagnostic practices, service availability, and access barriers across healthcare and education sectors, involving collaboration with the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. It will assess diagnostic tools, provider training, wait times, and compare Louisiana's services to other states to identify gaps and areas for improvement. The final report must be submitted to the legislature by January 1, 2027, to inform future policy decisions regarding autism support.
This bill establishes a Task Force on School Nurse Orientation in Louisiana to create a training program for new registered nurses entering public schools. The task force will review existing orientation programs, identify essential skills for school nurses, and develop recommendations for standardized training and mentorship opportunities. It will consist of nine representatives from various organizations including nursing associations, education agencies, and health departments, and must begin its work by August 1, 2026. The group will submit its recommendations to the legislature and will dissolve once its work is complete or by February 12, 2027.
SB 30 prohibits Louisiana state agencies and licensing boards from banning telehealth services for evaluating, diagnosing, or treating obesity and related metabolic conditions. It directly affects licensed healthcare providers who use telehealth to deliver these services. The bill requires that providers may prescribe FDA-approved or compounded noncontrolled medications via telehealth while operating within their license scope and standard of care. This policy change removes regulatory barriers to telehealth for these specific conditions, without altering existing licensure requirements.
SB 32 establishes the Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative within Louisiana's Department of Health to improve support for families experiencing pregnancy loss or infant death. The bill requires hospitals providing maternity care to receive staff training on supporting grieving parents, access to bereavement resources (like counseling referrals), and perinatal bereavement devices. It prioritizes hospitals serving high-risk patients, delivering many babies, or lacking current bereavement resources. The initiative can fund these services using voluntary monies, including federal grants and donations, without imposing new taxes.
SB 84 requires all health insurance plans sold in Louisiana to cover prostate cancer screening for men aged 40-49 (as medically appropriate) and men over 50, following National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. It mandates that insurers cover these screenings without any out-of-pocket costs for enrollees, including deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. The law applies to new policies starting January 1, 2027, and existing policies must comply by January 1, 2028. This directly affects Louisiana health insurers and their policyholders by guaranteeing no-cost access to recommended prostate cancer screenings.
SB 113 establishes a backup mechanism for Louisiana's Local Healthcare Provider Participation Program in Calcasieu Parish. If the parish fails to authorize a local hospital assessment payment by June 1, 2026, municipalities within the parish with populations over 60,000 may independently authorize such assessments for healthcare providers operating within their city limits. The bill treats these municipalities as equivalent to parishes for compliance purposes, requiring them to meet the same program requirements. This procedural bill directly affects Calcasieu Parish and its larger municipalities, clarifying governance authority for healthcare funding.
SB 192 requires dental insurance plans in Louisiana to obtain written, explicit consent ("express acceptance") from dentists before switching their payment method to electronic funds transfer or credit card. It defines "express acceptance" as a clear, written agreement from the dental provider, eliminating implied or ambiguous consent. The bill applies to all new dental insurance policies issued on or after January 1, 2027, and existing policies must comply by January 1, 2028. This directly affects dental insurance plans and dentists by mandating written agreement for payment method changes.
