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 174: DRUGS/TESTING: Requests the state surgeon general and the Louisiana Department of Health to assess the feasibility of advancing fenbendazole or similar treatments for potential human use in cancer treatment and to provide guidance on engaging federal authorities for expedited evaluation while protecting public health

This Louisiana legislative resolution directs the state Surgeon General and the Department of Health to evaluate whether fenbendazole or similar drugs could be used to treat cancer. The bill asks these health officials to determine if it is feasible to move such treatments toward human use and to seek guidance from federal agencies for a faster review process. All proposed actions must include safeguards to ensure public health remains protected during any potential advancement of these therapies. The measure focuses specifically on assessing the scientific viability and regulatory pathways for these substances rather than mandating their immediate adoption.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill seeks to explore potential new cancer treatments and expedite their evaluation, aiming to improve patient access to therapeutic options.75% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

Track

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 other

Track

passed both · Louisiana · Senate May 20, 2026

SCR 2: HOSPITALS: Amends rules relative to certain licensure requirements of hospitals.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill updates hospital architectural standards to current guidelines, improving facility quality and patient safety in healthcare settings.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed both · Louisiana · Senate May 20, 2026

SCR 20: MEDICAID: Memorialize Congress and urges the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement certain eligibility redeterminations.

This bill asks the U.S. Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to allow states to adopt Medicaid eligibility rules similar to those in Florida. It would let elderly and disabled Medicaid recipients be presumed eligible during annual renewal checks unless their financial or disability status changes significantly. The proposal also permits states to exempt some disabled individuals from yearly renewals entirely, requiring them only to report major life changes. This change aims to reduce administrative work for state agencies and prevent coverage gaps for vulnerable populations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid eligibility by reducing renewal burdens for elderly and disabled recipients, improving access to healthcare coverage and protecting patient rights.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

Track

passed both · Louisiana · Senate May 20, 2026

SCR 22: PHARMACEUTICALS: Requests a legislative auditor report on opioid settlement fund expenditures.

This bill asks the state legislative auditor to create a detailed report on how opioid settlement funds have been spent in Louisiana. The report will be sent to health and welfare committees by December 2026 and will cover how much money parishes and sheriff's offices received, what they spent it on, and any challenges they faced using the funds. It aims to provide transparency on the use of approximately $600 million in settlement money designated for opioid abatement efforts. The request for information includes specific details about expenditures, legal classifications for spending, performance outcomes, and administrative costs. This action does not change existing laws but seeks to gather data to help improve how local governments access and use these funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill seeks transparency on opioid settlement funds used for abatement efforts, ensuring proper allocation of resources for public health initiatives.85% 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 · House May 15, 2026

HB 199: NURSING HOMES: Extends moratorium on nursing facilities (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

HB 199 extends Louisiana's existing ban on new nursing facilities and additional nursing home beds until July 1, 2032, replacing the previous 2027 end date. This moratorium directly affects nursing facility developers, operators seeking to expand capacity, and communities planning new healthcare infrastructure. The bill modifies a specific statute (R.S. 40:2116.1(B)(1)) to set a new termination date, maintaining the current restriction without exceptions. The key change is simply prolonging the existing policy, with no new requirements or funding mechanisms added.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareExtends moratorium on new nursing facilities, restricting healthcare infrastructure expansion. Limits future patient access to nursing home beds by preventing new capacity additions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare