Healthcare (Hospitals)

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

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

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 113: HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to the Local Healthcare Provider Participation Program. (gov sig)

SB 113 establishes a backup mechanism for Louisiana's Local Healthcare Provider Participation Program in Calcasieu Parish. If the parish fails to authorize a local hospital assessment payment by June 1, 2026, municipalities within the parish with populations over 60,000 may independently authorize such assessments for healthcare providers operating within their city limits. The bill treats these municipalities as equivalent to parishes for compliance purposes, requiring them to meet the same program requirements. This procedural bill directly affects Calcasieu Parish and its larger municipalities, clarifying governance authority for healthcare funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes local assessments to fund healthcare program, advancing public service funding through tax mechanism for essential services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates backup funding mechanism for healthcare providers via municipal assessments, ensuring continued program access and stability for local healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 944: HEALTH SERVICES: Creates the Louisiana Women's Health Consortium (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 944 creates the Louisiana Women's Health Consortium within the Louisiana Department of Health to address women's health needs across the state. The consortium will include 15 voting members representing health institutions (like Tulane School of Medicine and Woman's Hospital), government agencies (such as the surgeon general's office), and community stakeholders, plus nonvoting members from additional health organizations. Its core duties include developing a state funding plan for women's health initiatives, creating a comprehensive Women's Health Agenda focusing on issues like perimenopause and menopause, and identifying systemic barriers to care. The consortium must hold quarterly public meetings, submit an annual report to the legislature, and coordinate an online resource hub for evidence-based women's health information.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Louisiana Women's Health Consortium to develop state funding plan for women's health services, directly advancing healthcare access and funding within public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Women's Health

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 221: HEALTH SERVICES: Provides relative to ambulance providers. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 221 establishes that "treatment-in-place" services - where ambulance providers assess and treat patients at the scene of a 911 call without transporting them - must be covered under Louisiana's Medicaid program (medical assistance program). Ambulance providers (excluding air ambulance services) will be reimbursed at existing Medicaid fee schedule rates for these services, without requiring real-time video or audio communication with a doctor for reimbursement. The bill mandates that such services follow medical protocols and the provider's scope of practice, while the Louisiana Department of Health will create implementing rules. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries receiving non-transport emergency care and ambulance providers who serve them.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid coverage for ambulance treatment-in-place services, expanding access to non-transport care and requiring reimbursement at existing rates without restrictive communication requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Mental Health Tags Public Safety

passed both · Louisiana · House Jun 2, 2026

HCR 3: HOSPITALS: Provides for a hospital stabilization formula (EN +$659,764,552 SD RV See Note)

HCR 3 establishes a quarterly assessment on Louisiana hospitals to stabilize funding without using state general funds. It requires hospitals to pay a percentage of their inpatient and outpatient revenue (ranging from 1.38% to 6.74%, with exemptions for rural hospitals and small facilities under 40 beds). The collected funds support Medicaid reimbursement enhancements for hospitals, ensuring payments meet or exceed 2026 rates while aligning with federal CMS guidelines. This directly affects most acute care hospitals in Louisiana, excluding rural and small facilities, and aims to preserve hospital services for all residents.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes hospital assessments (1.38%-6.74%) to fund Medicaid reimbursement enhancements without using state general funds, directly advancing budget allocation for essential healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a funding mechanism to enhance Medicaid hospital reimbursements, ensuring payments meet or exceed 2026 rates. This directly supports hospital financial stability and continuity of care for Medicaid patients.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid

Track

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

Sub-Topics Hospitals