This bill requires the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to have a panel of three active physicians review complaints involving clinical decisions before they can escalate to formal disciplinary action. The review panel, which must consist of licensed doctors with no conflicts of interest, evaluates the evidence and provides written recommendations on whether a violation occurred or if further investigation is needed. While the panel's advice is not binding, the board must keep a confidential record of its reasons if it decides to ignore the panel's recommendation. The bill also mandates that the board create specific rules to govern how the panel operates, including procedures for member selection, recusal, and maintaining the confidentiality of all review materials.
HB 1160 amends the laws governing rural physician licenses by updating specific terminology and clarifying the requirements for obtaining such licenses. The bill modifies the definition of a medical degree and adds language to ensure that licensing determinations are both approved and adopted through established administrative processes. It also changes the conditions under which a physician can be licensed, requiring them to meet a specific set of criteria rather than a single provision. These changes directly affect doctors practicing in rural areas and the state agencies responsible for issuing their medical licenses.
This bill creates the Louisiana Board of Naturopathic Medicine and establishes a new licensing framework for naturopathic doctors in the state. The legislation defines the scope of practice for naturopathic medicine, including permitted therapies, diagnostic procedures, and minor office surgeries, while also outlining requirements for education, training, and professional conduct. It grants licensed naturopathic doctors the authority to prescribe certain medications, order diagnostic tests, and compound drugs for individual patient needs, subject to specific limitations and regulations. The bill also transfers oversight of naturopathic medicine from existing agencies to the Louisiana Department of Health and sets rules for advertising, credential display, and fees associated with the new licensing system.
This bill updates the architectural design standards that hospitals in Louisiana must follow when applying for licensure. It requires hospital plans to comply with the most recent edition of the Facility Guidelines Institute standards, which are updated every four years rather than being stuck at the 2014 version. The change ensures that the state uses current building guidelines when reviewing hospital construction and renovation projects. This amendment directly affects hospital administrators, architects, and the Louisiana Department of Health, which oversees hospital licensing. The bill is a procedural update to administrative rules rather than a new policy initiative.
This bill updates Louisiana laws governing physician assistants by renaming the profession to "physician associate associate" and establishing an advisory committee to guide the State Board of Medical Examiners on licensing and regulation matters. The new advisory committee will include three physician associate associates appointed by the governor, with at least one member required to practice in a rural area with fewer than 20,000 people. Key provisions define supervision requirements, allowing physician associates to practice under a supervising physician's direction without needing physical presence as long as they can communicate via phone or other telecommunications. The legislation also modernizes existing statutes to clarify definitions, licensure requirements, and the board's authority while maintaining the requirement that physician associates work under physician supervision.
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 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.
HB 925 clarifies the scope of practice for audiologists in Louisiana by updating definitions and adding specific permissions and prohibitions. It permits audiologists to order certain diagnostic tests (like blood work, cultures, and non-radiographic in-office ear tests) related to auditory or vestibular conditions, and to order radiographic imaging for those conditions. However, it explicitly prohibits audiologists from performing surgeries (including laser, scalpel, or cochlear implant procedures) or interpreting diagnostic tests like blood work or radiographs for diagnosis. The bill directly affects licensed audiologists practicing in Louisiana by defining their permitted clinical activities and boundaries. This is a procedural clarification to standardize professional practice standards, not a new service or funding measure.
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.
SB 314 allows certified social workers in Louisiana who have provided community psychiatric support and treatment (CPST) services for three years to extend their certification for that specific role. It applies to workers who meet all master's-level social work licensure requirements except for one specific provision (R.S. 37:2707(A)(3)), enabling them to petition for an extension to continue CPST work. The bill specifically includes a provision to renew certifications that expired in 2025, allowing affected workers to apply for the extension. This is a procedural change to certification rules, not a new service or funding measure.
