Healthcare

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 291: INSURANCE/HEALTH: Prohibits health insurers from taking adverse payment or contracting actions against participating facilities based solely on another provider's network status (EN INCREASE EX See Note)

HB 291 prevents health insurers in Louisiana from penalizing hospitals or clinics (participating healthcare facilities) solely because another provider at that facility - like a doctor or specialist - is dropped from the insurer's network. The bill directly affects healthcare facilities that coordinate patient care with multiple providers, ensuring they won’t face payment cuts or contract terminations due to a partner provider’s network status. Key provisions ban insurers from reducing payments or ending agreements with facilities based on another provider’s network exclusion, and require that any contract clauses attempting to override this rule are void. This policy change aims to stabilize provider relationships and care continuity for patients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents insurers from penalizing facilities over provider network status, maintaining access to care and protecting healthcare facilities' financial stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 766: INSURANCE/HEALTH: Provides relative to coverage for orally administered anti-cancer medications (EN +$66,367 SG EX See Note)

HB 766 requires health insurers in Louisiana to cover orally administered anti-cancer medications on the same terms as intravenously administered ones. It prohibits insurers from imposing higher copays, deductibles, or prior authorizations for oral medications compared to IV treatments, and bans programs that ignore drug discounts (like "accumulator" programs). The bill caps out-of-pocket costs for oral anti-cancer drugs at $100 per prescription and ensures cost-sharing counts toward annual out-of-pocket maximums. It applies to most health plans but excludes limited-benefit policies, high-deductible plans with HSAs, and self-funded ERISA plans. This directly affects cancer patients and insurers by reducing financial barriers to oral medication access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires equal insurer coverage for oral vs IV anti-cancer drugs, bans higher copays/deductibles, caps out-of-pocket costs at $100 - improves patient access and reduces financial burden.95% confidence

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 255: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Provides relative to psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) services. (8/1/26)

SB 255 requires Medicaid-funded behavioral health providers in Louisiana to ensure staff delivering psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) services hold at least a bachelor's degree in specific fields like counseling, social work, or psychology. This affects all licensed providers seeking Medicaid reimbursement for PSR services. The bill mandates these educational qualifications as a condition for continued reimbursement, updating existing Medicaid eligibility rules. The measure is pending legislative review and would not take effect until enacted.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates higher qualifications for PSR services, enhancing rehabilitation quality to reduce recidivism - aligns with criminal justice reform goals of improving rehabilitation programs.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires bachelor's degrees for PSR staff to maintain Medicaid reimbursement, strengthening mental health service quality standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 236: HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to kidney disease. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 236 requires the Louisiana Department of Health to annually review Medicaid coverage for medications and treatments for chronic and rare kidney diseases, ensuring they meet patient needs. It mandates public input during these reviews and directs the department to partner with kidney disease organizations to boost education and early screening. The bill also requires an annual report to the legislature by January 15 each year, detailing review findings and recommendations. This affects Medicaid enrollees diagnosed with kidney disease in Louisiana by improving access to appropriate care and promoting early detection. The law focuses on systematic reviews and transparency, not changing Medicaid eligibility or funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires annual Medicaid coverage reviews for kidney disease treatments with patient input and partnerships to improve access, aligning with support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 169: GENETICS: Provides relative to biomarker testing. (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 169 requires health insurance plans in Louisiana to cover biomarker testing for patients needing personalized medical treatment, such as cancer care guided by genetic markers. It defines "clinical utility" through specific criteria to ensure tests are covered without unnecessary hurdles. The law prevents insurers from denying coverage based on laboratory classifications or unrelated credentialing, ensuring the test itself - not the lab - is the focus of coverage. This directly affects patients seeking biomarker tests and insurers, reducing the need for repeated biopsies by mandating seamless coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for biomarker testing in personalized cancer care, expanding patient access and preventing coverage denials based on lab classification.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medical Licensing

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 273: HEALTH SERVICES: Provides relative to inpatient licensed facilities. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

SB 273 establishes new requirements for hospice care provided in non-hospice inpatient facilities like nursing homes and assisted living centers in Louisiana. It mandates written care plans for hospice patients detailing providers, care responsibilities, and family contacts; requires facilities to notify hospice providers and families during transfers; and creates patient logs tracking hydration/nutrition decisions and family communication. The bill directly affects hospice patients, their families, and facility staff by clarifying accountability and communication protocols during care. The Louisiana Department of Health will oversee compliance, investigate complaints, and enforce penalties for violations of these provisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates written care plans, transfer notifications, and patient logs for hospice care in facilities, enhancing patient rights and care coordination in vulnerable settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 676: CRIME: Creates the crime of fraudulent patient referrals or "body brokering" (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 676 prohibits paying or receiving money for referring patients to substance abuse, mental health, or substance use disorder treatment facilities, defining this practice as "body brokering." It bans kickbacks tied to referral volume, treatment duration, or service type, but allows fixed payments unrelated to these factors. Violators face up to 5 years in prison, $50,000 fines, license suspension, or civil penalties. The law directly affects health care providers, facilities, and entities involved in patient referrals for substance use disorder treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans kickbacks for mental health/substance use referrals, preventing fraud and protecting patient care integrity in healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

passed · Louisiana · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 311: DONATIONS: Provides procedures and methods to execute gifts under the Anatomical Gift Act. (1/1/27)

SB 311 updates Louisiana's rules for organ and tissue donations after death. It clarifies who can authorize donations (including family members with legal documents), creates new systems for tracking both donation authorizations and refusals via state registries, and defines key terms like "donor registry" to standardize procedures. These changes directly affect donors, hospitals, organ procurement organizations, and medical teams handling donations. The bill modernizes existing law without altering donation policies, focusing on clearer legal processes for families and healthcare providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModernizes organ donation procedures, clarifies authorization, and standardizes registries to improve patient access to transplants, strengthening healthcare services.85% confidence

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 95: INSURANCE/HEALTH: Provides relative to health insurance coverage with respect to certain claims

HB 95 limits the amount a person can recover for medical expenses after a car accident if they had health insurance but didn't use it. It caps compensation at what their health insurance would have paid for those medical costs. This applies to standard car accident claims but does not affect workers' compensation cases under Louisiana law. The bill ensures health insurance coverage must be utilized before seeking full recovery for accident-related medical bills.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts patient access to full medical expense recovery by mandating health insurance utilization before claims, limiting compensation options.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Substance Abuse

Track

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 30: HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to telehealth. (gov sig)

SB 30 prohibits Louisiana state agencies and licensing boards from banning telehealth services for evaluating, diagnosing, or treating obesity and related metabolic conditions. It directly affects licensed healthcare providers who use telehealth to deliver these services. The bill requires that providers may prescribe FDA-approved or compounded noncontrolled medications via telehealth while operating within their license scope and standard of care. This policy change removes regulatory barriers to telehealth for these specific conditions, without altering existing licensure requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves regulatory barriers for telehealth access to obesity treatment, improving patient access to care under license scope and standard of care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Telehealth