Sen. Jimmy Harris

Maddy summarySB 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.

Maddy summarySB 366 amends Louisiana's Medical Malpractice Act to set a $1.5 million cap on total compensation for medical negligence claims (adjusted annually for inflation), including past medical costs and lost wages. It also limits a single healthcare provider's liability to $250,000 per patient (adjusted for inflation) and requires courts to separately assess future medical care needs. The bill changes how future medical expenses are handled, allowing patients to choose between direct payment, trust funds, or reimbursement through the Patient's Compensation Fund. These changes apply to all medical malpractice claims filed under Louisiana law.

Maddy summarySB 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HCR 3) is a concurrent resolution directing the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to amend rules governing outdoor advertising signs along highways. It requires increased spacing between signs (500-1,000 feet on most highways), bans stacked signs after July 31, 2025, and prohibits new permits for stacked configurations. The changes aim to reduce driver distractions and preserve scenic highway views, directly affecting billboard companies, property owners, and businesses that operate signage near roads. The resolution modifies existing DOTD rules to align with safety and beautification goals under the Highway Beautification Act. Note: The bill’s title incorrectly references SNAP benefits; the actual content addresses outdoor advertising regulations.

Maddy summarySB 203 allows tourism organizations in Orleans Parish (New Orleans) to charge participating hotels a fee of up to 1.75% of the daily room rate. This assessment would fund destination marketing, sales, public relations, and other tourism-related activities to support economic development and visitor growth. The fee requires approval by the tourism organization’s board and a vote of the affected hotels through a referendum. It directly affects hotels in New Orleans that are members of participating tourism groups. The bill amends Louisiana law to establish this specific assessment structure for Orleans Parish.

Maddy summarySB 61 requires insurers to provide consumers with a copy of the specific credit information they used when underwriting or setting rates for personal insurance policies (like auto or home insurance). This directly affects policyholders who apply for or renew personal insurance, giving them transparency into the credit data influencing their premiums. The key provision mandates that insurers must disclose this credit information upon initial application or renewal, rather than keeping it confidential. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate but does not change how credit data is used in rate calculations, only requiring disclosure to consumers.

Maddy summarySB 182 allows Louisiana's Department of Health to temporarily suspend Medicaid prior authorization and other utilization management requirements during a declared emergency. This applies broadly to all Medicaid recipients for essential healthcare services, removing prior restrictions that specifically mentioned cancer treatment or oncology care. The bill's key mechanism gives the Department authority to ensure uninterrupted access to medical services when emergencies like natural disasters or public health crises occur. It affects all Medicaid beneficiaries in Louisiana by streamlining access to necessary care during emergencies. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and is now pending in the House.

Maddy summarySB 201 modifies Louisiana's economic development incentives to include Paralympic events alongside Olympic events for financial support. It directly affects event organizers hosting qualifying international competitions in Louisiana by expanding eligibility for state financial incentives. The key provision adds "and Paralympic" to the list of qualifying events in existing incentive language, ensuring Paralympic events receive the same financial support as Olympic events. This change clarifies that both Olympic and Paralympic events are covered under the state's economic development funding program.

Maddy summarySB 161 clarifies the management of Louisiana's Bond Security and Redemption Fund for economic development purposes. It specifies that funds must be used solely for economic development initiatives and defines their sources as legislative appropriations, grants, or donations. The bill also requires the Louisiana Economic Development Department's board to coordinate with state agencies (like Transportation, Agriculture, and Tourism) and develop strategies to attract foreign investment and international business. This affects state agencies managing economic development funds and their coordination efforts, without creating new spending. The changes focus on streamlining fund usage and interagency collaboration.

Maddy summarySB 26 requires the Louisiana Department of Health to create and provide type 1 diabetes informational materials to the state Department of Education. These materials, which include descriptions of type 1 diabetes, risk factors, warning signs, and recommendations for blood autoantibody screening, must be distributed by school boards to parents and legal guardians of prekindergarten through secondary students at enrollment and annually. The bill mandates that schools share this information via website posting or electronic distribution, focusing on early detection and treatment guidance. It directly affects Louisiana public school students, their families, and school boards by standardizing diabetes awareness in educational settings. The legislation does not fund treatment or alter healthcare access but aims to inform families about critical diabetes indicators.