Healthcare

HB 654 modifies Louisiana's nursing facility licensing process to address bed availability based on community need. It requires the Louisiana Department of Health to calculate needed nursing beds in each parish by comparing the senior population (65+) to national nursing bed data, then determine if 30-120 beds or over 120 beds are needed. The bill directs the department to accept applications for expanding existing high-quality facilities (with >3-star CMS ratings) or new facilities (120 beds) only where need is confirmed, with preference for applicants committing to 95% private rooms and maintaining high quality ratings. Applicants must own/operate facilities, and licensees have one year to begin construction or risk losing the license. The bill repeals the previous licensing section (R.S. 40:2116.1) and excludes replacements without bed increases or conversions to adult care homes.

HB 237 creates the Lupus Commission within Louisiana's Department of Health to address lupus care and policy. The commission, composed of 13 members including medical professionals, healthcare systems, patient advocates (5 lupus patients), and state officials, will evaluate existing lupus programs, advise the governor and health department on treatment policies, and research state regulations affecting lupus care. It must hold quarterly public meetings, conduct annual public hearings on lupus-related issues, and submit an annual report to health committees. The commission aims to improve coordination, research, and policy recommendations specifically for Louisiana residents living with lupus.

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.

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.

HB 390 requires employers with 50+ Louisiana employees to provide up to three unpaid workdays per year for domestic abuse survivors. It allows leave for medical care, counseling, relocation, shelter services, or legal actions related to abuse. Employers may request documentation like court orders or appointment confirmations but cannot retaliate against employees using this leave. The bill directly affects domestic abuse survivors working for qualifying employers and prohibits discrimination for taking protected leave.

HB 866 prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and managed care plans in Louisiana from paying community pharmacies less than specific benchmarks for prescription drugs. It requires reimbursements to be at least the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) plus Louisiana's professional dispensing fee, or an approved alternative benchmark, and bans practices like "spread pricing" and "steering." The bill mandates "pass-through pricing," ensuring pharmacies receive payments directly without PBMs or plans keeping the difference. This directly affects Louisiana pharmacies and PBMs/managed care plans operating in the state, with violations subject to fines of $100,000+ per incident.

SB 5 regulates artificial intelligence mental health chatbots operating in Louisiana. It requires operators to clearly disclose upfront that the chatbot is AI (not human), provide crisis protocols for suicidal thoughts or self-harm (e.g., connecting to hotlines), and prohibit sharing users' personal health data without consent. The bill also bans using user input to target ads for products/services (except for the chatbot itself) and restricts in-chat advertising without clear disclosure of sponsorships. These rules apply specifically to chatbots marketed as providing mental health therapy or treatment, directly affecting operators and users in Louisiana.