Healthcare

in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 477: INSURANCE/HEALTH: Modifies provisions of law regarding health insurance coverage of prosthetic and custom orthotic devices and services (OR INCREASE EX See Note)

HB 477 requires most health insurance plans in Louisiana (effective January 2027) to cover prosthetic devices (like artificial limbs) and custom orthotic devices (like braces) for medical necessity. It mandates coverage for the devices, materials, repair, replacement (without lifetime limits), instruction, and special adaptations for bathing or physical activities like running. Insurance plans must follow federal payment standards (based on Medicare rates) and base coverage decisions on a physician’s or advanced provider’s medical necessity determination, with clear appeal processes for denials. This directly affects insured Louisianans needing these devices and insurers offering health coverage in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for prosthetics/orthotics without lifetime limits, expanding patient access to essential medical devices per federal payment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 678: TOPS: Authorizes students who qualify for a TOPS award but graduate from an out-of-state college to apply unused award amounts to medical or dental school in Louisiana and requires repayment unless certain conditions are met (OR +$367,110 GF EX See Note)

HB 678 allows Louisiana students who qualified for a TOPS scholarship but completed their undergraduate degree at an out-of-state college to use unused TOPS funds for medical or dental school in Louisiana. Students must sign a repayment agreement for the unused amount plus interest, but are exempt from repayment if they complete a residency program or practice medicine/dentistry full-time in Louisiana for three consecutive years after residency. The bill limits unused funds to eight semesters or equivalent and caps payments at the tuition cost of Louisiana’s highest-cost public university. It requires the Board of Regents to establish rules for repayment collection and exceptions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows unused TOPS funds to support medical/dental education in Louisiana, expanding access to higher education opportunities for students.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill redirects scholarship funds to medical/dental education with repayment exemptions for in-state practice, directly expanding healthcare workforce access and retention in Louisiana.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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died · Louisiana · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 328: EMPLOYMENT: Provides protections for employees who become living organ donors. (8/1/26)

SB 328, the "Louisiana Living Donor Paid Leave Protection Act," requires Louisiana state employers to provide up to 30 working days of paid leave for full-time employees (with at least 12 months of service) who donate organs like kidneys, livers, or bone marrow. Private employers must offer up to 30 days of unpaid leave for organ donation, with the option to provide paid leave and claim a 25% tax credit for the first 30 days of paid salary. The bill prohibits employers from firing, demoting, or discriminating against employees who take this leave and mandates physician verification for leave requests. This law applies to living organ donors (including bone marrow donors) and ensures leave is in addition to other existing benefits like medical or vacation time.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides private employers 25% tax credit for paid leave, constituting tax relief for businesses.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides paid leave for organ donors, enabling access to healthcare services without income loss, directly supporting organ donation as a healthcare service.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides 30 days paid leave for organ donors, prohibits retaliation, and expands employee benefits under labor protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Paid Leave

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signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 314: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Provides relative to community psychiatric support and treatment (CPST) services. (gov sig)

SB 314 allows certified social workers in Louisiana who have provided community psychiatric support and treatment (CPST) services for three years to extend their certification for that specific role. It applies to workers who meet all master's-level social work licensure requirements except for one specific provision (R.S. 37:2707(A)(3)), enabling them to petition for an extension to continue CPST work. The bill specifically includes a provision to renew certifications that expired in 2025, allowing affected workers to apply for the extension. This is a procedural change to certification rules, not a new service or funding measure.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends certification for mental health social workers providing CPST services, enabling continued access to community psychiatric support under healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health

in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 226: INSURANCE RATES: Prohibits insurance rate determination based on risks classified by gender. (8/1/26)

SB 226 prohibits Louisiana insurance companies from setting rates based on gender, meaning they cannot charge different premiums for men or women for the same coverage. This directly affects insurance providers who must adjust their pricing models and policyholders who may see more equitable rates. The bill amends Louisiana law to explicitly remove gender as a permissible classification factor in rate determination, alongside existing prohibitions on race, color, creed, or national origin. The bill is currently prefiled and under review by the Insurance Committee as of February 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits gender-based insurance pricing, ensuring equitable coverage and protecting patient rights under healthcare insurance policies.95% confidence

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in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 377: HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE: Provides relative to pharmacy benefit managers. (gov sig) (OR +$2,265,844 SG EX See Note)

SB 377 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Louisiana by setting rules for their compensation and transparency. It prohibits PBMs from retaining rebates or charging fees based on drug prices, savings, or patient costs, requiring instead a fixed fee for services. The bill mandates annual certification by PBMs to the insurance commissioner and allows annual audits to review payments to pharmacies and rebate handling. These audits require PBMs to provide detailed claim-level data, including reimbursement rates for affiliated vs. unaffiliated pharmacies and quarterly rebate amounts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates PBMs to prevent rebate retention and mandate transparency, reducing hidden costs and improving patient access to affordable medications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 222: MEDICAID: Requires Medicaid to cover dental procedures for certain Medicaid enrollees (EN +$784,370 GF EX See Note)

HB 222 requires Louisiana Medicaid to cover dental procedures when they are medically necessary for a patient to safely receive another Medicaid-covered medical treatment. This directly affects Medicaid enrollees who need dental care as a prerequisite for other covered medical procedures, such as surgeries or chronic condition management. The bill mandates the Louisiana Department of Health to update the state’s federal Medicaid plan, create necessary administrative rules, and submit required amendments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It does not expand general dental coverage but targets specific cases where dental treatment is a medical necessity for other covered care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid dental coverage for medically necessary procedures, improving access to integrated care and preventing treatment delays for covered medical services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 124: HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to peer review of health systems. (8/1/26)

SB 124 clarifies that peer review records for healthcare providers and facilities in Louisiana are confidential, meaning they cannot be disclosed in court or through discovery, except when a provider's professional privileges are under review. It defines a "health system" as two or more hospitals under common ownership and permits such systems to share peer review information among their own hospitals for credentialing, quality improvement, or patient safety purposes without losing confidentiality. The bill also shields healthcare providers and institutions from liability when sharing peer review information in good faith for these specific uses. This bill directly affects hospitals, health systems, and healthcare providers who participate in or are subject to peer review processes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies peer review confidentiality, enabling health systems to share quality improvement data without disclosure risks, supporting systemic healthcare quality and patient safety initiatives.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 337: HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE: Provides relative to pharmacy benefit managers. (8/1/26) (OR +$2,265,844 SG EX See Note)

SB 337 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Louisiana by requiring transparency in how they handle drug pricing and payments. It directly affects PBMs, local pharmacies (those with fewer than 10 locations), health insurers, and patients enrolled in health plans. Key provisions include banning "effective rate pricing" (hidden fee reductions), mandating clear compensation rules for pharmacies, allowing pharmacies to sue PBMs for violations, and requiring regular audits of PBM practices. The bill also creates new definitions for terms like "maximum allowable cost list" to ensure fair reimbursement for pharmacist services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates PBMs for transparency, bans hidden fees, mandates fair pharmacy compensation, improving patient access and cost clarity in drug coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 611: HEALTH/WOMEN'S: Provides relative to pregnancy-related service centers (OR +$643,678 GF EX See Note)

HB 611 requires pregnancy help centers in Louisiana providing healthcare services - such as pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, or medical counseling - to obtain a license from the Louisiana Department of Health. Centers offering only non-medical services (like peer counseling or religious support) are exempt from licensing. The bill sets standards comparable to outpatient healthcare facilities, including staff qualifications, infection control, and client confidentiality, with enforcement through inspections and fines up to $5,000 per day for unlicensed operation. It explicitly does not require abortion services, regulate religious activities, or restrict non-healthcare-related speech.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires medical pregnancy centers to meet healthcare standards (staff, safety, confidentiality), enhancing patient safety and quality of care per outpatient facility benchmarks.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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