Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SB 145: HEALTH SERVICES: Provides relative to adult residential care providers. (gov sig)

SB 145 requires all licensed adult residential care facilities in Louisiana to install and maintain a backup generator or approved alternative power source. This system must provide continuous electricity for critical functions during outages, including life safety systems, medical equipment, water/sanitation systems, medication storage, and specific HVAC requirements (50% for pre-2026 facilities, 90% for post-2026 facilities). Facilities must have fuel for 72 hours of continuous operation, with fuel delivery agreements extending to 168 hours, and must submit annual emergency plans if granted a waiver for space constraints. The law applies directly to all licensed adult residential care providers in Louisiana, with compliance required by December 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires backup power for medical equipment, life safety, and medication storage in care facilities, ensuring continuity of healthcare services during outages.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SB 270: HEALTH CARE: Provides for access to medical marijuana for terminally ill patients in a healthcare facility. (8/1/26)

This bill allows terminally ill patients (with a prognosis of one year or less) in Louisiana healthcare facilities to use medical marijuana under specific conditions. It requires facilities to permit use while prohibiting smoking/vaping, documenting it in medical records, and storing it securely in locked containers. Facilities must follow state guidelines but are not required to provide recommendations or include marijuana in discharge plans. The law acknowledges federal Schedule I restrictions but mandates compliance with state rules, allowing temporary suspension if federal agencies take enforcement action against such facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly expands healthcare access by enabling medical marijuana use for terminally ill patients in facilities, improving treatment options under specific conditions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 1, 2026

HB 626: COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: Provides relative to suicide prevention plans at colleges and universities

HB 626 requires Louisiana's public colleges and universities to post suicide hotline numbers (including 988) on their websites and on student ID cards. It mandates that institutions provide all new students with information about mental health services and suicide warning signs through interactive formats (like online modules), and ensure 24/7 access to trained mental health professionals via campus or remote support. The bill also requires institutions to collect and report anonymous, aggregated data on suicide risk assessments - including demographics and referrals - to mental health services. These provisions directly affect all public postsecondary institutions in Louisiana, aiming to improve student mental health resources and data tracking.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires suicide hotlines, mental health resources, and 24/7 access on campuses, directly expanding student access to mental health services per bill requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 470: HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to pregnant women in custody. (gov sig) (EN INCREASE LF EX See Note)

This bill modifies an existing law regarding pregnant women in custody to clarify that funding for their care can come from nonprofit organizations or federal grants. The change is a minor amendment that adds specific sources of financial support to the current legal framework. It directly affects state agencies responsible for managing the healthcare of incarcerated pregnant women. The legislation does not alter the core requirement for providing care but expands the list of permissible funding origins.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands permissible funding sources for essential healthcare services, strengthening financial support for a critical public program.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands funding sources for healthcare of incarcerated pregnant women by allowing nonprofit and federal grants.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 437: HEALTH DEPARTMENT: Provides relative to treatment services provided at facilities providing housing or temporary residence for individuals referred by judicial agencies. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

This bill requires facilities that provide housing or temporary residence for individuals referred by judicial agencies to obtain a license from the Louisiana Department of Health before offering residential substance use disorder treatment. The law mandates that the Department of Health must inspect and certify these facilities as compliant with specific rules before they can provide such services to people referred by courts or other judicial bodies. Additionally, the bill establishes a process for filing complaints against unlicensed residential treatment facilities and clarifies that licensed medical professionals can still offer behavioral health services in a person's home. These changes aim to ensure that judicially referred individuals receive treatment only from facilities that meet state health and safety standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill improves rehabilitation programs by requiring licensed treatment facilities for judicial referrals, enhancing oversight and care for individuals in the criminal justice system.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates licensing and inspection for substance use disorder treatment facilities, improving quality control and patient safety in healthcare services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 193: HEALTH/SICKLE CELL ANEM: Provides for the membership of the Louisiana Sickle Cell Commission

HB 193 restructures the membership of Louisiana's Sickle Cell Commission by specifying who serves on it. The bill requires the governor to appoint 13 members (with Senate confirmation), including key health officials like the Louisiana Department of Health secretary and Medicaid director, plus executive directors from seven regional sickle cell associations across the state. It repeals previous membership provisions that listed additional, less-specific roles. This is a procedural change affecting only the commission's composition, not sickle cell treatment or funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestructures sickle cell commission with health officials to improve oversight of sickle cell care, a public health program.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 915: MEDICAID: Provides with respect to utilization management practices (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

HB 915 sets strict deadlines for Louisiana Medicaid managed care organizations to approve or deny medical service requests. It requires decisions within 5 business days for standard requests (2 days for inpatient care, 72 hours for urgent cases), with clear denial notices including policy references. The bill directly affects healthcare providers and Medicaid managed care organizations by mandating timely reviews and prohibiting claim denials for late decisions. Key provisions include requiring written notice of denials within two business days, allowing limited extensions for additional clinical information, and banning retroactive claim denials after services are provided. This procedural bill focuses on streamlining authorization processes to reduce administrative delays for Medicaid enrollees.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates strict deadlines for Medicaid service approvals, improving patient access and preventing denials due to administrative delays.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 609: HEALTH CARE/RECORDS: Provides for the exemption of fees for health records when requested for the federal and state veterans affairs departments

HB 609 prohibits healthcare providers and facilities in Louisiana from charging fees for medical records when veterans request them specifically to apply for disability benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. It applies only once per veteran for the purpose of a disability claim, requiring providers to verify veteran status and the claim's purpose before waiving fees. The law exempts costs for preparing, reproducing, handling, or transmitting records under this specific circumstance. This directly affects veterans seeking disability benefits and healthcare entities handling such record requests.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves fees for veterans' medical records needed for disability claims, improving access to healthcare services and supporting veterans' healthcare access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves fees for veterans' medical records needed for disability claims, facilitating access to employment-related benefits and reducing barriers for veterans seeking workplace support.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProhibits fees for veterans' health records when applying for VA disability benefits, removing financial barriers to access healthcare services and benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 786: MEDICAID MANAGED CARE: Prohibits certain processes used in healthcare provider claim payments

HB 786 prohibits Louisiana's Medicaid managed care organizations from using "extrapolation" (mathematical estimation of unreviewed claims) when auditing healthcare providers. It requires that any payment adjustments for overpayments or underpayments be based solely on actual reviewed claims, not estimated totals. The bill directly affects healthcare providers receiving Medicaid payments and the private managed care organizations that administer those payments. Violations by managed care organizations can trigger penalties without prior notice, and contractual clauses attempting to waive these rules are void. This policy change ensures audits are based on verified data rather than estimates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits Medicaid managed care from using extrapolation in audits, requiring actual reviewed claims for payments. Protects healthcare providers from unfair underpayment, strengthening Medicaid provider participation and access to care.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 405: HEALTH: Provides relative to the practice of acupuncture

HB 405 amends Louisiana law to establish licensure requirements for acupuncturists. It requires practitioners to hold active certification from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and pass its certification exam, including the Biomedicine portion. The bill updates the legal reference to the certifying organization's name to match its current official title. This directly affects individuals seeking to practice acupuncture in Louisiana by setting standardized certification criteria. The bill is currently in committee referral and has not yet been enacted.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensure requirements for acupuncturists to ensure qualified practitioners, improving healthcare quality and patient safety per bill's certification mandate.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare