HB 539 Louisiana House · 2025 Regular Session

PHYSICIANS: Creates a program and fund administered by the La. Dept. of Health for the purpose of recruiting specialist physicians to practice medicine in the state (EG INCREASE GF EX See Note)

HB 539 creates a program and a dedicated fund, to be administered by the Louisiana Department of Health. The purpose of this initiative is to recruit specialist physicians to practice medicine within the state. The bill aims to increase the availability of specialized medical care by incentivizing these physicians to establish their practices in Louisiana.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Apr 4, 2025 Last action Apr 24, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB539 Original → HB539 Engrossed · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify definitions and significantly expand the program's operational rules. Key changes include redefining 'physician specialists' to explicitly cover doctors of allopathic or osteopathic medicine, adding new eligibility requirements regarding child support and federal debt, and establishing a formal rulemaking process to identify underserved areas and manage applications.

Scope change

The scope of the program was broadened to include osteopathic physicians and formalized through new administrative procedures for identifying service needs and selecting applicants.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'physician specialist' was updated to explicitly include doctors of allopathic or osteopathic medicine licensed in the state.

ELIGIBILITY

New eligibility criteria were added requiring applicants to not be in arrears on child support payments and not have liens for federal debts.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement mandates that applicants must not have an outstanding contractual obligation to provide health services to the federal government or other entities.

The bill now requires the department to publish rules identifying areas in need of specialists and establishing application cycles.

ENFORCEMENT

New provisions allow the department to terminate contracts and demand repayment if a recipient breaches the agreement.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 24, 2025

Committee

Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (12-0).

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors