Healthcare

in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 38: NURSING HOMES: Provides relative to nursing facilities. (gov sig)

SB 38 amends Louisiana's nursing facility licensing laws to address license revocation during emergencies. It requires the Louisiana Department of Health to hold revoked licenses in abeyance and reissue them to qualified operators if a facility's license is revoked due to evacuation failures during a declared emergency (e.g., hurricanes), ensuring continuity of care. This applies specifically to facilities without an alternative nursing home within 10 miles and prevents the usual facility review requirements from delaying reissuance. The law directly affects nursing facilities operating during emergencies, the Department of Health (as the licensing authority), and potential new operators seeking to reopen facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents license revocation during emergencies for nursing homes without alternatives, ensuring continuity of care and protecting patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

Track

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 206: HEALTH SERVICES: Provides for blood pressure testing in schools. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

SB 206 requires all Louisiana public school districts to conduct blood pressure screenings for students during the first semester or within 30 days of enrollment, following the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommended schedule. School boards must document results, follow up on abnormal readings within 60 days, and notify parents in writing if issues are found. This applies to public schools but exempts charter schools from the blood pressure screening requirement specifically (while they still follow other health screening rules). The bill aims to identify hypertension early in students through standardized school-based testing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school blood pressure screenings as preventive public health measure, requiring follow-up and documentation per AAP guidelines, advancing student health monitoring.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid

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

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 560: HOSPITALS: Provides relative to hospital service districts

HB 560 amends Louisiana law to update the stated purpose of hospital service districts. It adds a specific objective requiring these districts and their governing boards to cooperate with other public and private healthcare facilities serving district residents. This change clarifies that district boards must work with hospitals and health agencies to provide services. The bill directly affects hospital service districts and their governing bodies across Louisiana. The amendment is procedural and does not create new funding or mandates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates hospital districts to cooperate with healthcare facilities to provide services, enhancing coordination and access per amended law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 261: ABORTION: Provides for exceptions to abortion laws relative to rape and certain sex offenses

HB 261 creates exceptions to Louisiana's abortion restrictions for pregnancies resulting from specific sex offenses, including rape, sexual battery, and molestation. It directly affects pregnant individuals whose pregnancies stem from acts classified under Louisiana statutes like R.S. 14:41 (rape) or R.S. 14:81.2 (molestation). The bill explicitly states that no police report, forensic evidence, or prosecution of the alleged offense is required to qualify for this exception. This policy change expands access to abortion services in defined circumstances without mandating additional legal or medical documentation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands abortion access by removing barriers (police report/evidence requirements) for rape/molestation exceptions, directly improving healthcare access for affected individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 218: SCHOOLS: Requires the inclusion of questions pertaining to food insecurity on a residency questionnaire administered to public school students (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 218 requires Louisiana public schools to screen all students in grades K-12 for food insecurity at enrollment and once per semester, plus during school health clinic visits. The bill mandates using a free, age-appropriate screening tool selected by the state Department of Education and Health, with results kept confidential except for parents/guardians or authorized school staff. Schools must refer identified students to resources like meal programs, food pantries, and public assistance. Charter schools are exempt from this requirement under Section 3996(B)(24), but the bill applies directly to public school students and their families.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires food insecurity screenings and referrals to meal programs, addressing a key barrier to student learning and educational access in K-12 schools.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires school food insecurity screenings and referrals to meal programs/public assistance, addressing a social determinant of health and supporting public health initiatives as defined in the topic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Primary Care

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

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · Louisiana · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 363: HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE: Provides for health insurance. (8/1/26)

SB 363 requires health insurance companies in Louisiana to provide medically necessary treatments as determined by a patient's treating provider, prohibiting substitutions with less intensive care solely based on cost-saving measures. It directly affects health insurance issuers and patients who might face denied or downgraded care. The bill defines "lower level of care" as less intensive treatment than recommended by the provider and specifies that substitutions are only allowed if consistent with standard medical practice and clinically appropriate. This policy change aims to prevent insurers from overriding provider recommendations for financial reasons. The bill is currently pending referral to the Insurance Committee after being prefaced in February 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from substituting medically necessary care for cost-saving reasons, directly protecting patient access to recommended treatments and provider determinations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

Track

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 211: COURTS: Provides relative to the creation, administration, and eligibility requirements of the Homelessness Court program (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 211 creates Louisiana's "Homelessness Court Program," establishing specialized court divisions to address homelessness through treatment and support instead of incarceration. It directly affects individuals experiencing homelessness charged with misdemeanors or felonies related to public camping or survival needs, requiring courts to screen eligible defendants for the program. Key provisions include mandatory substance abuse and mental health treatment, housing/job assistance partnerships, and a new criminal penalty for "unauthorized camping on public property" (with exceptions for shelter access). The program aims to reduce recidivism, court workloads, and prison overcrowding by integrating health care, housing, and rehabilitation services under judicial supervision.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates Homelessness Court to divert non-violent homeless defendants from incarceration to treatment, reducing recidivism and promoting rehabilitation through mandated support services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health treatment for homeless defendants, directly advancing mental health services within the court program's requirements95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates Homelessness Court Program with mandatory housing/job assistance partnerships for homeless individuals charged with survival-related offenses, directly addressing homelessness through housing support rather than incarceration.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Mental Health Substance Abuse Homelessness