This bill requires the Louisiana Department of Health to set minimum reimbursement rates for nonemergency medical transportation services used by Medicaid recipients. It establishes a minimum payment of $14.50 per trip plus $2.10 per mile for transportation providers. The Louisiana Department of Health must implement these changes by October 1, 2026, through a Medicaid state plan amendment. This policy change directly affects transportation providers serving Medicaid patients and the state's healthcare administration.
This bill updates the rules for licensing occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in Louisiana. It requires applicants to pass a national certification exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and establishes specific fees for applying for and renewing licenses. The legislation also creates several pathways to waive the exam requirement, including for those already certified before the law takes effect, those licensed in other states with equivalent standards, state employees in specific therapy roles, and graduates of member nations of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. Additionally, it exempts therapists working in state facilities or agencies from continuing education requirements and clarifies the professional titles and abbreviations that licensed individuals may use.
HB 1199 mandates that health insurance plans cover genetic testing and treatments for SCN2A-associated medical conditions without imposing cost-sharing fees on members who are covered under their policy. The bill requires insurers to include these specific services in their coverage without charging patients a portion of the cost. This legislation directly affects individuals with SCN2A-related conditions and the health insurance providers who must adjust their benefit structures accordingly.
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 amends Louisiana law to require the Medicaid program to cover continuous glucose monitors for pregnant women with diabetes who use insulin more than twice daily or have experienced severe low blood sugar. The change specifically includes gestational diabetes, ensuring that eligible expectant mothers receive access to these monitoring devices as part of their treatment plan. By updating the state's Medicaid statutes, the legislation directly affects pregnant enrollees and the healthcare providers who administer their care.
This bill requires healthcare facilities in Louisiana to provide specific behavioral health services to patients admitted under emergency certificates. Upon admission, facilities must conduct a behavioral health evaluation within 72 hours and contact the patient's primary healthcare provider to review treatment history. At discharge, staff must notify healthcare professionals about the patient's release, provide a medical summary to follow-up providers, distribute educational materials about warning signs and privacy rights, and ensure patients receive at least a 14-day medication supply. The law also mandates that the Louisiana Department of Health create and publish these educational documents for patients and their families.
HB 302 prohibits new permits for businesses to sell vapor products within 300 feet of school property lines. It directly affects businesses seeking to open or operate vapor product sales near schools, requiring them to be at least 300 feet away. The bill specifies measurement can be either by sidewalk path (in areas with sidewalks) or straight line, with the straight-line method applying only to new permits issued after its adoption. This policy change restricts where new vapor product businesses can operate near schools but does not affect existing businesses.
This bill removes the legal provision that set a termination date for the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board, allowing the regulatory body to continue operating. By repealing the specific statute that established the board's expiration, the legislation ensures the board remains active for overseeing behavior analysts in the state. The change directly affects the board's ability to regulate professionals and maintain oversight without a fixed end date. No new powers or requirements are added; the bill simply eliminates the existing deadline for the board's existence.
HB 761 creates an advisory board within Louisiana's Department of Health to review and recommend new treatments for rare cancers. The 17-member board includes health officials, cancer researchers, oncologists from major institutions (like LSU, Tulane, and Xavier), and representatives from cancer research centers. The board must hold quarterly public meetings, compile findings within 30-45 days, and submit written reports to the Insurance Committees of both legislative chambers. This process directly affects how the Department of Health evaluates rare cancer treatments, streamlining recommendations to the agency for potential adoption.
HB 895 requires Louisiana hospitals and healthcare providers to offer sexual assault survivors specific medical treatments without undue delay. It mandates that providers make emergency contraception available and provide at least a three-day supply of HIV/STI prevention medication when medically needed, alongside private examinations adapted to each survivor's needs. The bill also requires hospitals to offer a survivor advocate (with confidential communications) during forensic exams, with the survivor's consent. This directly affects sexual assault survivors receiving emergency medical care in Louisiana hospitals.
