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 both · Louisiana · House May 21, 2026

HCR 90: SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Designates May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Louisiana

This bill designates May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Louisiana to promote public understanding of mental wellness. It encourages citizens, government agencies, businesses, and schools to increase awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. The resolution does not allocate funding or change laws but serves as a formal recognition to support community efforts in mental health education.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill designates Mental Health Awareness Month to promote understanding and reduce stigma, directly supporting mental health services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed both · Louisiana · House May 21, 2026

HCR 88: SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Recognizes April 28, 2026, as Nurses Day and May 6 through May 12, 2026, as National Nurses Week in Louisiana

This bill designates April 28, 2026, as Nurses Day and May 6 through May 12, 2026, as National Nurses Week in Louisiana. It directly affects the over 66,000 registered nurses licensed in the state by officially recognizing their contributions to healthcare. The resolution serves as a formal acknowledgment of the nursing profession's role in promoting ethical care and supporting public health initiatives. No changes to laws, funding, or regulations are made; the measure is purely commemorative.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill formally recognizes nurses' contributions to healthcare and public health, strengthening professional acknowledgment without restricting or defunding services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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 Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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 · 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