SR 154 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

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.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status introduced 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced May 25, 2026 Last action May 28, 2026

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What changed between versions

SR154 Original → SR154 Enrolled · 5 edits · May 28, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as an enrolled Senate resolution, transitioning from a draft to an official legislative text. The scope was expanded to include a comprehensive study on the adequacy of in-home skilled nursing services, specifically focusing on continuous and extended-hour care for medically fragile individuals. The resolution now mandates the Louisiana Department of Health to investigate provider capacity, workforce shortages, payment rates, and the impact of federal regulations on service delivery.

Scope change

The bill's scope broadened from a general request to study the in-home nursing market to a detailed mandate requiring an analysis of continuous care models, Medicaid payment rates, and the specific barriers preventing timely delivery of authorized hours.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific directives to study the adequacy of continuous and extended-hour skilled nursing services, distinct from traditional intermittent care.

Incorporated new 'Whereas' clauses citing federal workforce shortages, CMS moratoriums on new home health enrollments, and new federal rules on Medicaid service timeliness.

Expanded the study requirements to examine payment rates, utilization management by managed care organizations, and the number of beneficiaries forced into institutional settings due to staffing gaps.

Added a requirement to analyze the economic impact on family caregivers who reduce employment to provide care.

Specified a detailed list of stakeholders the Department of Health must consult, including pediatric subspecialty societies and disability rights organizations.

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1 primary · 0 co-sponsors