Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 676: CRIME: Creates the crime of fraudulent patient referrals or "body brokering" (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 676 prohibits paying or receiving money for referring patients to substance abuse, mental health, or substance use disorder treatment facilities, defining this practice as "body brokering." It bans kickbacks tied to referral volume, treatment duration, or service type, but allows fixed payments unrelated to these factors. Violators face up to 5 years in prison, $50,000 fines, license suspension, or civil penalties. The law directly affects health care providers, facilities, and entities involved in patient referrals for substance use disorder treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans kickbacks for mental health/substance use referrals, preventing fraud and protecting patient care integrity in healthcare services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 486: PSYCHOLOGISTS: Provides relative to the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT)

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables cross-state telepsychology services, expanding mental health access without additional licensing, aligning with support indicators for improved patient access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 301: LABOR: Creates the Independent Contractor Voluntary Portable Benefits Act

HB 301 creates the "Independent Contractor Voluntary Portable Benefits Act," allowing independent contractors in Louisiana to establish portable benefit accounts. These accounts, owned by the contractor and not tied to any specific employer, can be funded through voluntary contributions from hiring parties (like companies) or the contractors themselves, with clear opt-in and opt-out requirements. Key provisions include allowing contributions for health insurance, retirement, disability, and other benefits, while explicitly stating these contributions cannot be used to determine employment status or create employer liability under state labor laws. The bill directly affects independent contractors by providing a mechanism to access portable benefits across multiple clients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly enables health insurance coverage through portable benefit accounts for independent contractors, expanding access to healthcare benefits via voluntary contributions.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates portable benefits for independent contractors, expanding access to health, retirement, and disability coverage without employer ties, advancing worker benefit options.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · Louisiana · House May 21, 2026

HR 194: STUDENTS: Requests the Louisiana Department of Health and the state Department of Education to provide certain visual acuity screening data to researchers

This resolution asks the Louisiana Departments of Health and Education to share de-identified student vision screening data from 2018 to the present with independent researchers. The requested information includes details such as the year of screening, grade level, visual acuity results, and demographic categories to help analyze long-term trends in student eye health. While the bill does not change existing laws or require immediate action, it seeks to facilitate studies that could inform future decisions about student well-being and educational practices. If the agencies agree to provide the data, researchers will conduct the analysis and report their findings back to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill facilitates research on student eye health to improve educational access and student well-being.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill facilitates data sharing to analyze student eye health trends, aiding public health research and future policy improvements.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 26: HEALTH SERVICES: Provides relative to opioid treatment programs. (gov sig)

SB 26 repeals two Louisiana statutes (R.S. 40:2116(B)(5) and 2159) that required facility need reviews for opioid treatment programs. This bill directly affects opioid treatment facilities in Louisiana by removing a specific administrative review requirement. The key change is eliminating the need for these facilities to undergo a separate review process before operating, streamlining their regulatory compliance under state law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves administrative barriers for opioid treatment facilities, advancing rehabilitation programs aligned with criminal justice reform.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves administrative review requirement for opioid treatment facilities, streamlining operations and improving access to healthcare services under public health programs.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 195: HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to the administration of medications. (8/1/26)

SB 195, the "Danny's Dose EMS Treatment Act," allows licensed EMTs, advanced EMTs, and paramedics to administer a patient's own time-critical prescription medications during emergencies. It specifically applies to patients with rare diseases, chronic illnesses, or special medical needs who request it, using only intranasal, intravenous, or intramuscular medications. The bill establishes commission protocols for this practice and grants immunity from liability for EMTs unless gross negligence occurs. This directly affects emergency medical personnel and patients requiring immediate access to their prescribed medications outside standard hospital settings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows EMTs to administer patients' own critical meds in emergencies, improving access for chronic/special needs patients without new prescriptions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 206: HEALTH SERVICES: Provides for blood pressure testing in schools. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

SB 206 requires all Louisiana public school districts to conduct blood pressure screenings for students during the first semester or within 30 days of enrollment, following the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommended schedule. School boards must document results, follow up on abnormal readings within 60 days, and notify parents in writing if issues are found. This applies to public schools but exempts charter schools from the blood pressure screening requirement specifically (while they still follow other health screening rules). The bill aims to identify hypertension early in students through standardized school-based testing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school blood pressure screenings as preventive public health measure, requiring follow-up and documentation per AAP guidelines, advancing student health monitoring.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 275: HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE: Provides for reimbursement rates of services provided by CRNAs within their lawful scope of practice. (1/1/27)

SB 275 requires Louisiana health insurers to reimburse certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) at the same rate as physicians for identical services performed within a CRNA's scope of practice, regardless of billing codes. It also prohibits insurers from denying CRNAs network inclusion solely based on their provider type or licensure. The law applies to new insurance policies issued on or after January 1, 2027, and existing policies must comply by January 1, 2028. This directly affects insurers, CRNAs, and patients seeking anesthesia services covered under these plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires equal reimbursement for CRNAs vs. physicians and prohibits network exclusion, improving access to anesthesia services and protecting provider rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 747: BOARDS/COMMISSIONS: Provides relative to medical psychologists

HB 747 establishes a new licensure pathway for medical psychologists in Louisiana, replacing the previous "certificate of advanced practice" requirement. It requires medical psychologists to meet specific qualifications - including three years of experience, treatment of 100+ patients using medications like antidepressants, and recommendations from collaborating physicians - to obtain an advanced practice license. The bill mandates that patients treated by these professionals must have an established primary care provider overseeing their overall medical care. Licensing fees are set at $325 for initial issuance and $300 for renewal, with provisions for license reinstatement after expiration. The law directly affects medical psychologists seeking licensure and their patients, while eliminating dual licensure requirements with the existing psychology board.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensure pathway for medical psychologists, enabling expanded mental health services access through standardized qualifications and collaboration requirements.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 15, 2026

HB 907: HEALTH CARE/PROVIDERS: Provides civil and criminal immunity for the distribution or use of Naloxone and other opioid antagonists beyond their shelf-life end date

This bill protects healthcare providers and individuals from civil and criminal liability when they distribute or use Naloxone and other opioid reversal drugs even after their labeled expiration dates have passed. It allows people acting in good faith to administer these medications to someone believed to be having an opioid overdose without fear of legal consequences, except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Healthcare professionals are also shielded from disciplinary action by licensing boards for actions covered under this immunity, though federally certified facilities must still follow federal rules regarding expired medications. The law defines "shelf-life end date" based on federal labeling requirements and takes effect upon the governor's signature.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces legal barriers to opioid overdose treatment, supporting public health and reducing criminal justice involvement in overdose cases75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects healthcare providers and individuals from liability when administering Naloxone, encouraging overdose response and improving patient safety.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare