Healthcare (Long-Term Care)

introduced · Louisiana · Senate May 28, 2026

SR 154: NURSES: Requests the Louisiana Department of Health to study the adequacy of the in-home skilled nursing services market in Louisiana.

This bill asks the Louisiana Department of Health to conduct a comprehensive study on the availability and quality of in-home skilled nursing services for medically fragile children and adults. The investigation will examine specific issues such as whether there are enough providers to meet demand, if current pay rates are competitive, and why authorized care hours often go unfilled. Additionally, the study will analyze why some patients end up in more expensive hospital settings instead of receiving care at home and how family caregivers are affected by these gaps. The department is required to consult with various stakeholders, including patients, providers, and advocacy groups, and must submit its findings and recommendations to the Senate by October 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates a study to improve in-home nursing services, aiming to increase access and quality for patients.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Long-Term Care

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signed · Louisiana · House Jun 25, 2026

HB 1095: NURSING HOMES: Provides for alternative power sources at nursing facilities

This bill requires nursing homes in Louisiana to have a permanently installed generator or alternative power source on-site to ensure electricity during emergencies. Facilities must store fuel or other power generation materials either on-site or ensure they are delivered before any emergency occurs. The law updates existing regulations to mandate these backup power capabilities for nursing facilities. This change directly affects nursing home operators who must now maintain specific power infrastructure and fuel supplies. The legislation focuses on improving emergency preparedness without specifying particular outcomes or advocating for a particular viewpoint.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates backup power infrastructure at nursing homes, strengthening energy reliability and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates backup power at nursing homes, directly protecting patient safety and healthcare service continuity during emergencies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Resilience Long-Term Care

signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 9, 2026

SB 405: NURSING HOMES: Provides for a statewide quality oversight initiative for nursing facilities. (8/1/26) (EN GF EX See Note)

This bill, known as the Nursing Home Choice Act, requires Louisiana to provide counseling and alternative options to residents and families of nursing homes that receive the lowest one-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. When a facility is rated one star, staff must offer immediate access to community-based services or transfer residents to a higher-rated nursing home, and potential residents must be notified before placement to explore alternatives. The law also mandates that one-star facilities submit a remediation plan with specific improvement targets within 30 days, provide quarterly progress reports, and face additional monitoring and potential sanctions if they fail to improve their rating within two years. These requirements apply to all nursing homes with a one-star rating on October 1, 2026, and remain in effect until the facility achieves a rating of two stars or higher.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves patient access to quality care by requiring alternatives for low-rated nursing homes and protecting resident rights.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Medicare

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

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Medical Licensing

in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 38: NURSING HOMES: Provides relative to nursing facilities. (gov sig)

SB 38 amends Louisiana's nursing facility licensing laws to address license revocation during emergencies. It requires the Louisiana Department of Health to hold revoked licenses in abeyance and reissue them to qualified operators if a facility's license is revoked due to evacuation failures during a declared emergency (e.g., hurricanes), ensuring continuity of care. This applies specifically to facilities without an alternative nursing home within 10 miles and prevents the usual facility review requirements from delaying reissuance. The law directly affects nursing facilities operating during emergencies, the Department of Health (as the licensing authority), and potential new operators seeking to reopen facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents license revocation during emergencies for nursing homes without alternatives, ensuring continuity of care and protecting patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 190: NURSING HOMES: Provides relative to nursing home licenses. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

SB 190 requires Louisiana nursing homes identified by federal authorities as candidates for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' "Special Focus Facility Program" (due to persistent safety issues like abuse or health risks) to undergo enhanced state oversight. It mandates facilities to notify residents about safety concerns, offer transfer options, and comply with stricter state requirements - including quarterly unannounced inspections, root cause analyses, and staffing adjustments. If a facility fails to meet these requirements within 18 months, the state can revoke its license. The bill also prohibits repeat participation in the program, requiring license revocation or facility closure for repeat offenders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates enhanced oversight for nursing homes with safety issues, requiring resident notifications, transfer options, and stricter inspections to protect patient safety in healthcare facilities.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates stricter safety oversight, quarterly inspections, and staffing adjustments for nursing homes with safety issues, directly improving workplace safety standards for workers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Medicare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 273: HEALTH SERVICES: Provides relative to inpatient licensed facilities. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

SB 273 establishes new requirements for hospice care provided in non-hospice inpatient facilities like nursing homes and assisted living centers in Louisiana. It mandates written care plans for hospice patients detailing providers, care responsibilities, and family contacts; requires facilities to notify hospice providers and families during transfers; and creates patient logs tracking hydration/nutrition decisions and family communication. The bill directly affects hospice patients, their families, and facility staff by clarifying accountability and communication protocols during care. The Louisiana Department of Health will oversee compliance, investigate complaints, and enforce penalties for violations of these provisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates written care plans, transfer notifications, and patient logs for hospice care in facilities, enhancing patient rights and care coordination in vulnerable settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 654: NURSING HOMES: Modifies licensing procedures for nursing facilities

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModifies nursing home licensing to expand capacity based on senior population needs, improving access to care for elderly residents.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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