This bill requires facilities that provide housing or temporary residence for individuals referred by judicial agencies to obtain a license from the Louisiana Department of Health before offering residential substance use disorder treatment. The law mandates that the Department of Health must inspect and certify these facilities as compliant with specific rules before they can provide such services to people referred by courts or other judicial bodies. Additionally, the bill establishes a process for filing complaints against unlicensed residential treatment facilities and clarifies that licensed medical professionals can still offer behavioral health services in a person's home. These changes aim to ensure that judicially referred individuals receive treatment only from facilities that meet state health and safety standards.
This bill requires Louisiana public schools to allow behavioral health and primary care providers to deliver medically necessary services to students during school hours if a parent or guardian requests them. It mandates that school districts create policies permitting these services without creating barriers, while clarifying that schools are not required to establish or fund such clinics. Key provisions include insurance requirements for providers, criminal background checks for staff, and rules ensuring parents can choose their own providers without school interference. The legislation also establishes that these services do not count as special education evaluations and outlines procedures for scheduling care around academic activities.
This bill updates Louisiana laws governing the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority to establish a formal regulatory framework for addiction counseling professionals. It creates new categories of credentials including peer support specialists and peer support specialist associates, defining their roles, training requirements, and supervision needs. The legislation also introduces criminal background checks, renewal procedures, and fee structures for the board, while expanding definitions to include gambling addiction and co-occurring disorders. These changes aim to standardize how addiction counseling services are licensed and supervised in the state.
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.
This bill requires healthcare facilities in Louisiana to provide specific behavioral health services to patients admitted under emergency certificates. Upon admission, facilities must conduct a behavioral health evaluation within 72 hours and contact the patient's primary healthcare provider to review treatment history. At discharge, staff must notify healthcare professionals about the patient's release, provide a medical summary to follow-up providers, distribute educational materials about warning signs and privacy rights, and ensure patients receive at least a 14-day medication supply. The law also mandates that the Louisiana Department of Health create and publish these educational documents for patients and their families.
This bill requires Louisiana public schools to administer trauma screenings to all students from prekindergarten through twelfth grade each school year. The Louisiana Department of Health will select and provide a screening tool to each school board to facilitate these assessments. The legislation directly affects public school administrators, teachers, and students by mandating regular mental health evaluations. Schools must implement this screening process as part of their standard operations without additional funding specified in the text.
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 requires health insurance companies in Louisiana to cover mobile crisis response and behavioral health crisis care services when provided by eligible licensed providers. The law mandates that these services do not need prior authorization from insurers and allows providers to coordinate with the state's Crisis Hub for information sharing. Coverage may include standard cost-sharing options like deductibles and copayments, while reimbursement methods remain up to each insurer's discretion. The bill defines these services as short-term, recovery-focused interventions for adults and children experiencing mental health or substance use crises, with an effective date of July 1, 2027.
HB 486 enacts Louisiana's participation in the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), allowing psychologists licensed in Louisiana to provide telepsychology services (via video or phone) and temporary in-person care (up to 30 days per year) in other participating states without obtaining additional licenses. The bill establishes a $50 fee for Louisiana-licensed psychologists using the compact and requires states to share information on licensure and disciplinary actions to protect public safety. It defines key terms like "home state" (Louisiana for the psychologist) and "distant state" (the state where temporary care occurs), while ensuring the compact does not apply to permanent in-person practice. This aims to increase access to psychological services across state lines while maintaining regulatory oversight through shared information and commission oversight.
HB 572 creates Louisiana's Resilient Youth and Trauma-Informed Schools Grant Pilot Program to support public schools with 60% or more students eligible for free/reduced lunch. The program provides grants for schools to hire counselors/social workers, train staff in trauma-informed practices, implement social-emotional learning curricula, and establish community mentorship networks. Participating schools must collaborate with Louisiana universities to track attendance, discipline, and mental health outcomes, reporting annually to the Department of Education. The program requires legislative funding and will generate annual reports for the legislature on results and recommendations. This pilot aims to improve student well-being through evidence-based school-based support services.
