SB 155 requires Louisiana health insurers to cover medically necessary dental procedures directly related to cancer treatment, such as infection prevention/treatment or addressing tooth decay caused by chemotherapy, radiation, or biological therapy. It specifically covers procedures within 30 days before treatment, during treatment, or as a result of treatment (including obturators for oral cavity defects), but excludes routine preventive care like cleanings. The law applies to all new health insurance plans issued on or after January 1, 2027, with existing plans required to comply by January 1, 2028. It does not apply to short-term policies, limited-benefit plans, or excepted benefits.
SB 250 requires Louisiana's Office of Group Benefits to contract with healthcare providers to offer comprehensive weight management services to plan participants. These services include FDA-approved medications, medically appropriate compounded treatments, medical evaluations, prescribing oversight, and follow-up care. The bill directly affects individuals enrolled in group health benefit plans covered under Louisiana's state programs. It establishes a formal mechanism for the Office of Group Benefits to provide these specific health services through qualified external partners. The bill is currently under review by the Finance Committee after being prefilled on February 26, 2026.
SB 295 requires all health insurance plans sold in Louisiana to cover medically necessary treatments for people with acquired brain injuries (ABIs), such as stroke or trauma survivors. It prohibits lifetime or unreasonable annual limits on treatment days/sessions, ensures ABI care isn’t subject to higher deductibles/copays than other benefits, and bans coverage denials based solely on treatment location (e.g., home vs. facility) if clinically appropriate. The bill defines covered services to include cognitive rehabilitation, neurobehavioral therapy, and community reintegration support, and mandates peer-reviewed appeals for denied claims. The bill is pending in the Insurance Committee after being prefilled in February 2026.
HB 430, known as the "MJ 911 Act," mandates that Lafayette Parish employers provide lifelong health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and children (including step- or adopted children) of law enforcement officers or firefighters killed in the line of duty. Specifically, it requires employers to pay for health insurance for surviving spouses for life and for children until age 18 (or until 23 if enrolled in school or disabled). The law applies retroactively to January 1, 2017, for all qualifying families and ensures coverage matches what active members receive. It does not require families to accept the coverage, allowing them to decline it if desired.
This Senate Resolution asks the Louisiana Department of Health to provide regular updates on how it is using federal funds for the Rural Health Transformation Program. The bill specifically directs the department to submit two detailed reports by late 2026 and late 2027 that list which organizations received money and how much. These reports must also include data on the program's progress in improving healthcare access and outcomes in rural areas. The request aims to ensure transparency and accountability for the billions of dollars allocated to improve rural health infrastructure and services.
This resolution urges the Louisiana Department of Health and health insurers to increase reimbursement rates for Behavioral Health Crisis Centers. It directly affects the state's health agencies and insurance companies by calling for higher payments to these crisis care facilities. The bill does not change any laws or create new programs but serves as a formal recommendation to improve funding for mental health crisis services.
This bill allows licensed physicians in Louisiana to use nitrous oxide as pain relief during minor office surgeries and similar procedures. It requires the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to create specific safety guidelines for this practice while explicitly prohibiting the board from banning its use in these settings. The legislation directly affects doctors who may now have an additional tool for managing patient pain in outpatient settings, provided they follow the board's rules.
HB 89 ensures that retired district attorneys and assistant district attorneys in Louisiana's Third Judicial District with at least 24 years of full-time service receive full coverage for their health insurance premiums. The district attorney's office will pay 100% of the premium - either the retiree's current plan or the equivalent amount paid by a current employee - regardless of age. Once retirees become Medicare-eligible, the office continues covering their supplemental plan premiums to maintain comparable coverage. This applies only to retirees who retire after the bill's effective date.
SB 52 requires Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to report child custody changes to the Department of Health within 72 hours when a child is placed in or returned to a parent's custody. This triggers automatic adjustments to public assistance benefits (like SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid) for the parent's household to reflect the child's new living situation. The bill ensures benefits accurately match where the child resides, preventing overpayment if a child is no longer living with a household receiving aid. It directly affects families receiving public assistance and the state agencies managing those benefits.
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.
