Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 45: HEALTH SERVICES: Provides relative to hospice care. (gov sig) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

This bill exempts certain nonprofit hospices providing free end-of-life care from standard hospice licensure requirements. It directly affects nonprofit organizations that offer no-cost, home-like care to terminally ill patients, provided they meet three criteria: charging no fees to patients/families, receiving no insurance payments (including Medicare/Medicaid), and limiting accommodations to three private bedrooms. The bill treats these exempt organizations as the patient’s residence for care purposes, requiring medications to be handled like home care, and allows designated caregivers (even without licenses) to perform tasks under a hospice provider’s plan. These changes aim to expand access to low-cost hospice options while clarifying care delivery standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts nonprofit hospices from licensure requirements, enabling free end-of-life care access without insurance billing or fees.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 193: HEALTH/SICKLE CELL ANEM: Provides for the membership of the Louisiana Sickle Cell Commission

HB 193 restructures the membership of Louisiana's Sickle Cell Commission by specifying who serves on it. The bill requires the governor to appoint 13 members (with Senate confirmation), including key health officials like the Louisiana Department of Health secretary and Medicaid director, plus executive directors from seven regional sickle cell associations across the state. It repeals previous membership provisions that listed additional, less-specific roles. This is a procedural change affecting only the commission's composition, not sickle cell treatment or funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestructures sickle cell commission with health officials to improve oversight of sickle cell care, a public health program.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 124: HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to peer review of health systems. (8/1/26)

SB 124 clarifies that peer review records for healthcare providers and facilities in Louisiana are confidential, meaning they cannot be disclosed in court or through discovery, except when a provider's professional privileges are under review. It defines a "health system" as two or more hospitals under common ownership and permits such systems to share peer review information among their own hospitals for credentialing, quality improvement, or patient safety purposes without losing confidentiality. The bill also shields healthcare providers and institutions from liability when sharing peer review information in good faith for these specific uses. This bill directly affects hospitals, health systems, and healthcare providers who participate in or are subject to peer review processes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies peer review confidentiality, enabling health systems to share quality improvement data without disclosure risks, supporting systemic healthcare quality and patient safety initiatives.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 181: CHARITABLE GAMING: Provides an exemption for nonprofit healthcare organizations to hold and operate a license for conducting certain raffles. (8/1/26)

SB 181 exempts nonprofit healthcare organizations in Louisiana from needing a state license to hold charitable games of chance (like raffles or bingo). Instead, these organizations must annually notify the Office of Charitable Gaming of their participation. The bill defines "nonprofit healthcare organization" broadly to include healthcare providers, their parent organizations, affiliates, and foundations that are tax-exempt and licensed in Louisiana. This change directly affects eligible healthcare groups, allowing them to operate games without a license while maintaining reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts healthcare nonprofits from licensing for charitable gaming, enabling easier fundraising to support healthcare services and operations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 222: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Provides for Medicaid behavioral health services. (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 222 streamlines Medicaid behavioral health services in Louisiana by removing unnecessary administrative barriers for providers. It prohibits requiring pre-employment reference letters (§302), eliminates most CPR/first aid certification demands for staff (§303), aligns documentation timelines with federal standards (§305), and allows physician assistants with specific experience to serve as medical directors (§307). The bill also requires the state to seek federal approval for telehealth reimbursement of psychosocial services by July 2026 (§308). These changes directly affect Medicaid behavioral health providers, aiming to reduce duplication and expand workforce flexibility while maintaining care quality.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves administrative barriers for Medicaid behavioral health providers, improving access to mental health services and aligning with federal standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 915: MEDICAID: Provides with respect to utilization management practices (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

HB 915 sets strict deadlines for Louisiana Medicaid managed care organizations to approve or deny medical service requests. It requires decisions within 5 business days for standard requests (2 days for inpatient care, 72 hours for urgent cases), with clear denial notices including policy references. The bill directly affects healthcare providers and Medicaid managed care organizations by mandating timely reviews and prohibiting claim denials for late decisions. Key provisions include requiring written notice of denials within two business days, allowing limited extensions for additional clinical information, and banning retroactive claim denials after services are provided. This procedural bill focuses on streamlining authorization processes to reduce administrative delays for Medicaid enrollees.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates strict deadlines for Medicaid service approvals, improving patient access and preventing denials due to administrative delays.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 609: HEALTH CARE/RECORDS: Provides for the exemption of fees for health records when requested for the federal and state veterans affairs departments

HB 609 prohibits healthcare providers and facilities in Louisiana from charging fees for medical records when veterans request them specifically to apply for disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. It applies only once per veteran for the purpose of a disability claim, requiring providers to verify veteran status and the claim's purpose before waiving fees. The law exempts costs for preparing, reproducing, handling, or transmitting records under this specific circumstance. This directly affects veterans seeking disability benefits and healthcare entities handling such record requests.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves fees for veterans' medical records needed for disability claims, improving access to healthcare services and supporting veterans' healthcare access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves fees for veterans' medical records needed for disability claims, facilitating access to employment-related benefits and reducing barriers for veterans seeking workplace support.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProhibits fees for veterans' health records when applying for VA disability benefits, removing financial barriers to access healthcare services and benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 786: MEDICAID MANAGED CARE: Prohibits certain processes used in healthcare provider claim payments

HB 786 prohibits Louisiana's Medicaid managed care organizations from using "extrapolation" (mathematical estimation of unreviewed claims) when auditing healthcare providers. It requires that any payment adjustments for overpayments or underpayments be based solely on actual reviewed claims, not estimated totals. The bill directly affects healthcare providers receiving Medicaid payments and the private managed care organizations that administer those payments. Violations by managed care organizations can trigger penalties without prior notice, and contractual clauses attempting to waive these rules are void. This policy change ensures audits are based on verified data rather than estimates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits Medicaid managed care from using extrapolation in audits, requiring actual reviewed claims for payments. Protects healthcare providers from unfair underpayment, strengthening Medicaid provider participation and access to care.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 392: SCHOOLS: Provides relative to requirements for posting suicide hotline information on school websites and student ID cards

HB 392 requires all Louisiana public and nonpublic secondary schools to post suicide prevention hotline information on their websites and print it on student ID cards. Specifically, schools must display the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number "988" (with instructions to call or text) and, if available, local and state suicide prevention hotline numbers. This bill updates existing requirements by broadening the scope to all secondary schools and standardizing the required information. The policy directly affects schools and students by ensuring immediate access to crisis resources through everyday school materials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates suicide hotline info on school sites/IDs, enhancing student safety programs within K-12 schools per bill's requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates suicide hotline access on school websites/ID cards, directly supporting mental health services by improving student access to crisis resources.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 405: HEALTH: Provides relative to the practice of acupuncture

HB 405 amends Louisiana law to establish licensure requirements for acupuncturists. It requires practitioners to hold active certification from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and pass its certification exam, including the Biomedicine portion. The bill updates the legal reference to the certifying organization's name to match its current official title. This directly affects individuals seeking to practice acupuncture in Louisiana by setting standardized certification criteria. The bill is currently in committee referral and has not yet been enacted.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensure requirements for acupuncturists to ensure qualified practitioners, improving healthcare quality and patient safety per bill's certification mandate.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare