Healthcare

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 790: CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES: Provides relative to medical emergency preparedness in correctional facilities

HB 790 requires all Louisiana correctional facilities to ensure staff and chaplains maintain current CPR and AED certification by specific deadlines (within 180 days of January 1, 2027, for current staff). It mandates facilities to place operational AEDs within three minutes of any inmate housing area, with specific locations including cellblocks, medical units, and recreation spaces. The bill also establishes a voluntary inmate CPR training program for eligible inmates with good behavior, offering positive record notes but no legal duty to assist. Additionally, it requires unannounced quarterly contraband screening for staff with direct inmate contact to support emergency response readiness.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates AEDs, CPR training, and emergency preparedness in correctional facilities, directly enhancing medical response capabilities for inmates.95% confidence

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signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SB 52: CHILDREN/FAMILY SERVICES DEPT: Provides relative to public assistance benefits for children. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures Medicaid and public assistance benefits automatically adjust when child custody changes, maintaining accurate healthcare coverage access and preventing overpayment.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 460: EMPLOYMENT/DISCRIMINATN: Provides relative to employment discrimination against certain employees being treated with medical marijuana

HB 460 would protect state employees and job applicants in Louisiana from employment discrimination based on using physician-recommended medical marijuana. It prohibits state agencies and the Civil Service Commission from refusing to hire or firing individuals who use medical marijuana as prescribed, while still allowing drug testing for impairment during work hours. The bill applies to all state classified and unclassified service positions, ensuring medical marijuana use does not affect employment decisions. This change would update existing anti-discrimination law to explicitly include medical marijuana use under state employment protections.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects medical marijuana users from employment discrimination, advancing patient access to healthcare treatment without job penalties95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects state employees from discrimination based on medical marijuana use, advancing workers' rights without impairing workplace safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Public Employees

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signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 895: HEALTH/MEDICAL TREATMENT: Provides relative to the treatment of sexual assault survivors by hospitals and healthcare providers (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 895 requires Louisiana hospitals and healthcare providers to offer sexual assault survivors specific medical treatments without undue delay. It mandates that providers make emergency contraception available and provide at least a three-day supply of HIV/STI prevention medication when medically needed, alongside private examinations adapted to each survivor's needs. The bill also requires hospitals to offer a survivor advocate (with confidential communications) during forensic exams, with the survivor's consent. This directly affects sexual assault survivors receiving emergency medical care in Louisiana hospitals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates emergency contraception, HIV/STI meds, and survivor advocates for sexual assault care, enhancing patient access and rights in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

passed · Louisiana · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 919: INSURANCE/HEALTH: Provides relative to pharmacy benefit managers (RE +$238,163 SG EX See Note)

HB 919 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Louisiana to reimburse pharmacies at least the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) plus the state's professional dispensing fee per prescription, with a minimum $12 per prescription. It prohibits PBMs from owning or contracting with pharmacies (including subsidiaries) and mandates annual transparency reports detailing foreign subsidiaries and financial arrangements with drug manufacturers. PBMs violating these rules face fines up to $100,000 per violation for executives, with unlimited liability for large PBMs ($500M+ revenue). The law applies retroactively to prescriptions filled between January 1, 2025, and December 1, 2025, and becomes fully effective for new requirements in 2027. These provisions directly affect pharmacies, pharmacists, and PBMs operating in Louisiana.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires fair PBM reimbursement to pharmacies, prevents conflicts of interest, and mandates transparency to ensure medication access and affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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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

passed · Louisiana · House May 13, 2026

HB 926: VACCINES/VACCINATION: Prohibits the use of vaccine status to determine admission to public buildings

HB 926, the "Louisiana Medical Freedom Act," prohibits public buildings, government services, and businesses from denying access or services based on an individual's vaccine status or refusal of any medical intervention (including vaccines). It bans government entities from requiring vaccinations for public building access, employment, or services, and prevents businesses from denying services or employment based on medical intervention refusal. The bill explicitly states that healthy individuals cannot be excluded from public activities during health emergencies due to declining a vaccine. This law applies broadly to all public facilities, government services, and businesses operating in Louisiana.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits vaccine mandates for public access, restricting public health enforcement mechanisms like vaccination requirements for services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 381: HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE: Provides for pharmacy benefit managers. (gov sig)

SB 381 (Louisiana) regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) by requiring them to pass all drug manufacturer rebates directly to health plans as lower premiums or reduced patient costs, rather than keeping them. It prohibits PBMs from withholding rebates to exclude generic or cheaper drugs from formularies and bans requiring patients to use more expensive brand-name drugs when cheaper alternatives exist. The bill also mandates a 60-day transition period for patients when a drug is removed from a formulary, ensuring continuity of care during plan changes. These provisions directly affect PBMs, health insurers, pharmacies, and patients in Louisiana by increasing transparency and reducing out-of-pocket costs. The bill is pending legislative action as of its prefiling date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires PBMs to pass rebates to lower premiums/patient costs, prohibits exclusion of cheaper drugs, and bans forcing expensive brands over generics - improving affordability and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 245: MENTAL HEALTH: Provides relative to treatments for veterans. (8/1/26) (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

SB 245 requires the Louisiana Department of Health to create a comprehensive veteran suicide prevention plan by January 1, 2027. The plan must connect veterans to ongoing, barrier-free mental health care and use non-traditional methods to rapidly address PTSD symptoms. It directly affects Louisiana veterans by mandating a state-led strategy focused on preventing suicide through collaborative, accessible services. The bill does not change existing laws but sets a deadline for the Department of Health to develop this specific prevention framework.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates state plan for veteran mental health access and suicide prevention, expanding barrier-free care services per bill's requirements.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates state suicide prevention plan with barrier-free mental health care for veterans, directly advancing healthcare access per bill's requirement for comprehensive veteran mental health strategy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 452: INSURANCE: Prohibits financial incentives or penalties to encourage healthcare providers to administer vaccinations

HB 452 prohibits health insurance plans from offering extra payments to healthcare providers to encourage administering vaccinations or denying reimbursement/charging penalties to influence vaccination rates. It directly affects insurance companies and healthcare providers by banning financial incentives or penalties tied to vaccine administration. The law applies to most health insurance plans (including employer-sponsored and HMO plans) but excludes limited benefit plans and short-term policies. This creates a clear policy change: insurers cannot use financial pressure to steer providers toward or away from vaccinating patients.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits financial incentives/penalties tied to vaccination rates, restricting a tool to promote public health initiatives under healthcare policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Public Health

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