The Louisiana State Medical Society was formed in 1878 with the sole purpose of advancing "healthcare in the state of Louisiana. Today our mission is to be the trusted advocate for patients and physicians in the State of Louisiana. Learn more about the history of LSMS here: https://lsms.org/page/History.
The Legisla Ɵ ve Edi Ɵ on
June/July 2024
PAGE 2 Final Legisla Ɵ ve Update
PAGE 3 LSMS Annual Mee Ɵ ng and House of Delegates Informa Ɵ on
PAGE 8 Federal Elec Ɵ ons Redistric Ɵ ng and Voter Resources
PAGE 10 LSMS Tracked Legisla Ɵ on
that Completed the Legisla Ɵ ve Process
John VanHoose, MD (L) and Steven Hale, MD (R) with Sen. Mark Abraham, all from Lake Charles.
PAGE 19 Legisla Ɵ ve Recep Ɵ on Picture Collage
Despite an impending storm that canceled White Coat Wednesday, physicians and legislators kept calm and carried on to enjoy the 2024 Legisla Ɵ ve Recep Ɵ on. Held at The City Club in Baton Rouge, the event included a wine and bourbon tas Ɵ ng paired with hors d'oeuvres. Pictures from the event are included throughout this issue of “ Capsules .”
PAGE 20 Physician Loan Repayment Program
2024 Regular Session Adjourns Final Legisla Ɵ ve Update
You’ve heard your government a ff airs sta ff tell you frequently that elec Ɵ ons ma Ʃ er and have systemic changes and consequences throughout government. For the fi rst Ɵ me ever, Louisiana has a Republican Governor with a Republican super-majority legislature with which to work. Other than his e ff orts at having a Cons Ɵ tu Ɵ onal Conven Ɵ on, Gov. Landry con Ɵ nues to rack up victories at the Capitol. Depending on where you personally sit, this will no doubt impact your thoughts on how things are going in Baton Rouge. For LSMS though, much of the legisla Ɵ on this session focused on anything but healthcare, leaving us to quietly manage what a ff ected physicians, pa Ɵ ents and the prac Ɵ ce of medicine. Here is a taste of what we saw this year.
included a roll-back of various statutes changed during the prior administra Ɵ on. With li Ʃ le to no Ɵ me between organizing and the two special sessions, the regular session began on March 11 with Governor Landry focusing on three major points: 1 – Calling a Cons Ɵ tu Ɵ onal Conven Ɵ on to follow the regular session culmina Ɵ ng in a ra Ɵ fying vote during the November Presiden Ɵ al Elec Ɵ on, 2 – Deregula Ɵ ng property insurance in the hope of encouraging new companies to underwrite policies in Louisiana, and 3 – O ff ering school choice to allow parents to direct how state money follows their child using tools like Educa Ɵ on Savings Accounts.
The 2024 Louisiana Legisla Ɵ ve Regular Session has adjourned Sine Die. For most par Ɵ cipants from legislators to regulators to lobbyists, Sine Die comes with a big *SIGH*! For these folks, the legisla Ɵ ve season began with the organiza Ɵ onal session on January 8 of this year and has been non-stop for just 5 days short of 6 months! As a refresher (since there’s been a lot of water passing under the bridge this year), the fi rst special session was short and speci fi c to redistric Ɵ ng Louisiana’s Congressional seats. The goal was to create a second majority-minority district. This was accomplished by crea Ɵ ng a “slash” district across the state that contains parts of Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Shreveport – and everything in between. The changed district is currently represented by Congressman Garret Graves, a Republican from Baton Rouge who has announced he will not run for Congress this Fall. The most well-known name expected to appear on the ballot is State Senator Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge. Also contempla Ɵ ng a run is State Senator Gerald Boudreaux of Lafaye Ʃ e. The second special session was slightly longer but s Ɵ ll a short whirlwind and focused on Criminal Jus Ɵ ce. During the second special session, the legislature focused on strengthening sentencing, moving 17-year-old o ff enders into adult prisons and giving ci Ɵ zens greater ability to carry guns. Changes also
- Con Ɵ nued on Page 4 -
LDH Secretary Ralph Abraham, MD, and his wife Dianne at the legisla Ɵ on recep Ɵ on with a Ʃ endees from VCOM. L to R: Dean Mark Sanders, DO; Direc Ɵ on Leann Bond; the Abrahams; Dean Emeritus Ray Morrison, DO and students Jimmy Nguyen, Chris Ɵ ne Le and Kenny Kha-Vo.
Page 2
LSMS
The Legisla Ɵ ve Edi Ɵ on
June/July 2024
Senator Jay Morris and Senator Thomas Pressly*
*Others invited. Awai Ɵ ng con fi rma Ɵ on.
Page 3
percent of the di ff erence between the amount billed and the amount actually paid to the medical provider in considera Ɵ on of the claimant's cost of procurement of health insurance. This amount shall be used to compensate a claimant for any diminu Ɵ on in the claimant's patrimony and for such expenses as payment of all, or part, of the premium for the health insurance issuer providing bene fi ts to the claimant for treatment of bodily injuries sustained. The amount actually paid by a health insurance issuer, any cost sharing amount, and the amount billed, paid, or to be paid by the health insurance issuer or Medicare, obligated to pay such expenses shall be discoverable to permit the calcula Ɵ on of the thirty percent di ff erence and shall be admissible to the trier of fact. The jury, however, shall be informed only of the amount billed by a medical provider for medical treatment. Whether any person has paid or has agreed to pay, in whole or in part, any of a claimant's medical expenses shall not be disclosed to the jury. HB 423 has been vetoed by the Governor. ACT 149 (SB 219) was introduced by Sen. Patrick McMath (SD 11-R). The ACT provides for much needed addi Ɵ onal transparency in the process of demutualiza Ɵ on. This legisla Ɵ on is a result of the unsuccessful e ff orts earlier this year by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to be acquired by Elevance. MATERNAL HEALTH: As we’ve seen in the last 3 regular sessions, women’s health issues con Ɵ nue to produce a myriad of legisla Ɵ on here in Louisiana. LSMS tracked (tracking does not equate to having posi Ɵ ons on…) 26 bills in this
facets of the insurance industry: health, property and casualty, auto, life and workers comp. For the most part, the workers compensa Ɵ on and automobile insurance legisla Ɵ on had the most poten Ɵ al to impact physicians. A signi fi cant amount of energy was expended to fi ght legisla Ɵ on in these two areas. Ul Ɵ mately, e ff orts to oppose or amend legisla Ɵ on proved successful. Workers comp legisla Ɵ on to set a physician fee schedule, increase burdens on employees and open medical records to employers all failed to pass. * HB 392 was o ff ered by Rep. Aimee Freeman (HD 98 – D). Rep. Freeman worked with Sen. Thomas Pressly (SD 38 – R) to o ff er substan Ɵ ve amendments to HB 392 on the Senate fl oor. As passed, Rep. Freeman’s legisla Ɵ on requires any health insurer o ff ering coverage in Louisiana to cover any medically necessary care or treatment for menopause and perimenopause. Furthermore, the insurer shall not require a prior authoriza Ɵ on or otherwise subject a pa Ɵ ent to a step -therapy or fail- fi rst policy or protocol for the administra Ɵ on or prescrip Ɵ on of any medica Ɵ on administered or prescribed for hormone replacement therapy used to treat symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. HB 423 was introduced by Rep. Michael Melerine (HD 6 – R). Rep. Melerine fi led his bill at the request of the Louisiana Associa Ɵ on of Business and Industry (LABI). The bill crosses several topic areas to include liability and tort reform. The change it makes to “collateral source” rules is what physicians have been concerned about. The fi nal version of this legisla Ɵ on allows the court to award up to thirty
- Con Ɵ nued from Page 2 -
(NOTE: * Denotes legisla Ɵ on that is repeated in mul Ɵ ple categories.) A full list of LSMS tracked legisla Ɵ on that was enacted follows as a separate list. NONCOMPETES: Legisla Ɵ on a ff ec Ɵ ng how physician noncompete clauses in employment contracts are enforced passed this year and has been signed by Gov. Landry. ACT 273 (SB 165) was introduced by Sen. Patrick McMath (SD 11 – R). As passed, this legisla Ɵ on will impact all physicians. SB 165 will prohibit employers from enforcing noncompete clauses upon primary care physicians; de fi ned as a physician who predominantly prac Ɵ ces general family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, general obstetrics, or general gynecology a Ō er three years. It will also prohibit enforcement of noncompete clauses upon all other physicians a Ō er fi ve years, depending upon respec Ɵ ve contracts. Rela Ɵ ve to “evergreen” contracts, as they auto- renew a Ō er January 1, 2025, the three-year (primary care) and fi ve- year (specialists) Ɵ me frames begin. Thus, upon renewal, once the applicable Ɵ me frame runs, an employer will no longer be able to enforce a non-compete clause against the physician. As a note, ACT 273 applies to all en ƟƟ es including non-pro fi t organiza Ɵ ons. The FTC ruling is being challenged rela Ɵ ve to the Commissions’ jurisdic Ɵ on and authority over non-pro fi t organiza Ɵ ons. INSURANCE: This year, legisla Ɵ on fi led impacted all
Page 4
LSMS
The Legisla Ɵ ve Edi Ɵ on
June/July 2024
Freeman’s legisla Ɵ on requires any health insurer o ff ering coverage in Louisiana to cover any medically necessary care or treatment for menopause and perimenopause. Furthermore, the insurer shall not require a prior authoriza Ɵ on or otherwise subject a pa Ɵ ent to a step -therapy or fail- fi rst policy or protocol for the administra Ɵ on or prescrip Ɵ on of any medica Ɵ on administered or prescribed for hormone replacement therapy used to treat symptoms of menopause and perimenopause.
interim to educate legislators in hopes of bringing the bill next year. ACT 122 (SB 55) was introduced by Sen. Gary Carter (SD 7 – D). As passed, ACT 122 requires the LA Department of Health to develop informa Ɵ on on “post-birth warning signs, including symptoms and available resources” which shall be included on the department’s website. In turn, hospitals and birthing centers that provide labor and delivery services must provide the mother and her family with this informa Ɵ on. ACT 299 (SB 143) was introduced by Sen. Regina Barrow (SD 15 – D). Sen. Barrow’s legisla Ɵ on requires any healthcare provider who provides prenatal and postpartum care to a woman to screen for hypertension and preeclampsia using an ACOG validated tool if in your medical judgment you believe the screening to be in the best interest of the pa Ɵ ent. ACT 301 (SB 148) was introduced by Sen. Beth Mizell (SD 12 – R). Sen. Mizell successfully gave a prescriber the ability to request a fail- fi rst override when being required to use a drug o ff -label for postpartum depression. * ACT 246 (SB 276) was introduced by Sen. Thomas Pressly (SD 38 – R). This legisla Ɵ on was actually introduced to criminalize the use of abor Ɵ on-inducing drugs on a mother without her consent. An amendment to the bill by the House Health and Welfare Commi Ʃ ee has added Mifepristone and Misoprostol to the Louisiana Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances List as Schedule IV drugs.
session – the largest number in any of our categories. As expected, none of the legisla Ɵ on that would have impacted Louisiana’s abor Ɵ on statutes got out of a commi Ʃ ee this year. HB 63 was introduced by Rep. Candace Newell (HD 99 – D). Rep. Newell took in all the informa Ɵ on, comments and concerns o ff ered to her and others during debates held in the 2023 Session. (Rep. Newell brought HB 598 and former Rep. Mary DuBuisson brought HB 461 in
Watch our video to learn how to use the legisla Ɵ ve website to look up informa Ɵ on on any bill fi led.
h Ʃ ps://legis.la.gov/legis/BillSearch.aspx?sid=last
HB 833 was o ff ered by Rep. Paula Davis (HD 69 – R). Rep. Davis a Ʃ empted to protect in vitro fer Ɵ liza Ɵ on treatment in Louisiana following challenges in other states. The legisla Ɵ on would have updated de fi ni Ɵ ons which currently classify “embryos” as “human beings.” In Louisiana, criminal statutes refer to “human beings,” meaning physicians and healthcare a Ʃ orneys could bear criminal liability. A Ō er a needed amendment didn’t get on the bill in Senate Commi Ʃ ee, Rep. Davis opted to let the bill die on the calendar. She has said she will work in the
2023.) While the bill did not get reported from commi Ʃ ee, many legislators have acknowledged that physicians are telling them the current statute is not clear and that they have concerns about what a pa Ɵ ent can experience – in par Ɵ cular during an emergent situa Ɵ on. * HB 392 was o ff ered by Rep. Aimee Freeman (HD 98 – D). Rep. Freeman worked with Sen. Thomas Pressly (SD 38 – R) to o ff er substan Ɵ ve amendments to HB 392 on the Senate fl oor. As passed, Rep.
- Con Ɵ nued on Page 6 -
Page 5
HB 579 was introduced by Rep. Wayne McMahen (HD 10 – R). As originally fi led the bill would have allowed pharmacists to u Ɵ lize a statewide protocol developed by the Board of Pharmacy to ini Ɵ ate therapy, dispense PrEP and PEP, order lab tests and more in e ff orts to o ff er access to medica Ɵ ons for HIV preven Ɵ on. While no one opposed increasing the access to PrEP and PEP medica Ɵ ons, the mechanism created did not meet the standards of care that would be expected by physicians or other healthcare providers. Rep. McMahen worked with every stakeholder to address concerns associated with legisla Ɵ on and ul Ɵ mately accepted amendments o ff ered by the Louisiana Department of Health to be Ʃ er cra Ō a piece of legisla Ɵ on that enables the Department to promulgate rules surrounding the dispensing of PrEP and PEP through a pharmacy without a prescrip Ɵ on and with appropriate follow-up requirements for a pa Ɵ ent. Sen. Jay Morris (SD 35 – R) was a pivotal champion for physicians during the Senate debates on HB 579. HB 828 was introduced by Rep. Dus Ɵ n Miller (HD 40 – D). As fi nally passed, this legisla Ɵ on does have the poten Ɵ al to muddy some waters related to scope of prac Ɵ ce. It allows a medical psychologist to consult with a pa Ɵ ent’s primary care provider directly, even if that provider is not a physician. It does require that the medical psychologist must include a provider’s supervising or collabora Ɵ ng physician when that provider is not a physician. Interpreta Ɵ on of how the legisla Ɵ on is implemented through the Board of Medical Examiners will be important moving forward.
Rep. Jeremy LaCombe from New Roads visits with Richard Bridges, MD of Amite.
appropriateness counseling children as it relates to gender iden Ɵ ty and issues. While they were fi led, none of the most controversial bills received a hearing. of HB 849 was introduced by Rep. John Illg (HD 78 – R). Rep. Illg’s legisla Ɵ on requires anyone providing behavioral health services to a pa Ɵ ent to accept and make part of the pa Ɵ ent’s medical record any collateral informa Ɵ on related by a pa Ɵ ent’s family member, caregiver, friend or other healthcare professional. The bill also adds some addi Ɵ onal discharge plan requirements for no Ɵ fi ca Ɵ on of other healthcare providers. SCOPE OF PRACTICE: This year, legisla Ɵ on was fi led for physical therapists, medical psychologists and pharmacists. Both legislators who were asked to bring the legisla Ɵ on for the physical therapists refused to move their bills a Ō er hearing concerns from the physician community.
- Con Ɵ nued from Page 5 -
ACT 332 (SB 325) was introduced by Sen. Rick Edmonds (SD 6 – R). Act 332 requires the LA Department of Health to develop an informa Ɵ onal document containing resources and services available for a pregnant woman whose unborn child has been diagnosed with a fetal abnormality. The healthcare provider who delivers the diagnoses to the mother is now required to provide this document to the mother within 72 hours. MENTAL HEALTH: Mental Health issues have taken center stage within this administra Ɵ on as legislators and regulators grapple to fi nd ways to improve outcomes in an area that has been overlooked and underfunded for genera Ɵ ons. Issues discussed this session included opioid addi Ɵ on, elderly condi Ɵ ons, sexual abuse, prisoner rehabilita Ɵ on and more. Much of the more controversial legisla Ɵ on was amended (if passed) to remove physician concerns. Legislators con Ɵ nue to debate the
Page 6
LSMS
The Legisla Ɵ ve Edi Ɵ on
June/July 2024
PHARMACEUTICALS: Outside of scope bills, each session there are bills that impact prescribers included in pharmaceu Ɵ cal legisla Ɵ on. For instance, each year the state updates its drug schedules to re fl ect changes made at the federal level. Addi Ɵ onally, the state has the authority to include other drugs that may not be on the federal schedule. ACT 205 (HB 193) was introduced by Rep. Chris Turner (HD 12 – R). ACT 205 codi fi es a Louisiana Board of Pharmacy rule that was originally requested by LSMS. A pharmacy is now required to transfer a prescrip Ɵ on to another pharmacy at the request of the pa Ɵ ent. With the enactment of the legisla Ɵ on, the transfer is also now authorized for controlled dangerous substances in conformity with federal regula Ɵ on. * ACT 246 (SB 276) was introduced by Sen. Thomas Pressly (SD 38 – R). This legisla Ɵ on was actually introduced to criminalize the use of abor Ɵ on-inducing drugs on a mother without her consent. An
Misoprostol to the Louisiana Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances List as Schedule IV drugs. (NOTE: A di ff erent piece of legisla Ɵ on added Tianep Ɵ ne to Schedule I.) AND THEN THERE WERE THESE: These were the bills that didn’t really fall under one of the ordered lists, but they s Ɵ ll may be of interest to you. HB 853 was introduced by Rep. Brach Myers (HD 45 – R). Louisiana now has a Surgeon General in the LA Department of
Legisla Ɵ ve on Technology and Cybersecurity to begin developing regula Ɵ ons. Commi Ʃ ee HCR 97 was introduced by Rep. Michael Echols (HD 14 – R). Rep. Echols has con Ɵ nued his task force from 2023 that focuses on physician supply and demand. It is hoped that it will be con Ɵ nued further, as the original task force broke out their planned work product over three dis Ɵ nct phases. To read the 1 st Phase Report, visit the LDH website. ACT 306 (SB 190) was introduced by Sen. Gerald Boudreaux (SD 24 – D). ACT306 focuses e ff orts on physician reimbursement in Medicaid and directs the LA Department of Health to develop a funding plan to pay physicians at the same rate as Medicare. The plan is required to be submi Ʃ ed by November 1, 2024.
Health. HB 853 requires the gubernatorially appointed posi Ɵ on to be fi lled by a physician licensed and prac Ɵ cing in Louisiana. HB 869 was introduced by Rep. Tammy Phelps (HD 3 – D). Louisiana physicians and physician assistants prac Ɵ cing emergency medicine will be required to take a one-hour CME course on the treatment of sickle cell disease followed by a refresher every three years. The course is to be made available by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. HCR 66 was introduced by Rep. Michael Melerine (HD 6 - R). The use of ar Ɵ fi cial intelligence has been a challenge for physicians and the healthcare industry as a whole. Because of the growth in the market, state legislators have been unable to develop adequate de fi ni Ɵ ons. With HCR 66, Rep. Melerine is making use of the Joint
LDH Chief of Sta ff , Drew Maranto visits with Rep. Wayne McMahen of Springhill.
amendment to the bill by the House Health and Welfare Commi Ʃ ee has added Mifepristone and
Page 7
Federal Elec Ɵ on Season Underway Focus on Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District
Congressional redistric Ɵ ng maps passed in the fi rst special session of Gov. Je ff Landry’s term will be used for the 2024 Congressional elec Ɵ ons. Under the gun to meet prin Ɵ ng deadlines and with a request from Gov. Landry to create a second majority-minority district, the Louisiana Legislature passed SB8 which became ACT2. The US Supreme Court has
for all prac Ɵ cal purposes approved the current districts seen in the map to the right below for the 2024-2026 term. This is the 3rd set of maps to be used in three consecu Ɵ ve Congressional elec Ɵ ons. Congressman Garret Graves who currently represents the 6th district has decided not to run, leaving an open seat.
Steve Scalise - R Majority Leader Elected 2008
Troy Carter - D
Clay Higgins - R
Mike Johnson - R
Julia Letlow - R
Garret Graves - R Elected 2015
Speaker Elected 2017
Elected 2021
Elected 2017
Elected 2021
What it WAS.
5
4
6
2
3
1
Credits for 2-Page Spread! Congressional Pictures: US House O ffi ce of Photography Maps: Louisiana Legisla Ɵ ve Redistric Ɵ ng Site: redist.legis.la.gov
Page 8
LSMS
The Legisla Ɵ ve Edi Ɵ on
June/July 2024
Louisiana’s 2024 Federal Elec Ɵ on Calendar
Voter Resources Online tools available in Louisiana Louisiana’s Secretary of State website (sos.la.gov) o ff ers resources for confused voters...and who wouldn’t be confused by districts these days? To help you fi gure out what district you’ll be vo Ɵ ng in, you can visit the Voter Portal to review your ballot. This tool is par Ɵ cularly useful if you are in a di ff erent district for this elec Ɵ on. Old “Who Is Your Legislator” tools will not be updated un Ɵ l AFTER this elec Ɵ on. h Ʃ ps://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/AddressLogin
Elec Ɵ on Date
November 5
December 7
Congress Primary/ President General
Elec Ɵ on Type
Congress General
Qualifying
7/17 to 7/19
N/A
In Person/By Mail Registra Ɵ on Deadline Geaux Vote Online Registra Ɵ on Deadline Deadline to Request a Mail Ballot Deadline for Receipt of Mail Ballot
10/7
11/6
10/15
11/16
11/1
12/3
11/4
12/6
Early Vo Ɵ ng
10/18 to 10/29
11/22 to 11/30
5
What it IS.
4
6
6
2
1
1
3
Page 9
This is a curated list of LSMS tracked bills that completed the legislative process. The list was run on Sunday, June 23, at 11 AM. To learn more about the list and how to use it, please watch our video below.
HB 1, McFarland APPROPRIATIONS: Provides for the ordinary operating expenses of state government for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 6/3/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 46, Edmonston
VACCINES/VACCINATION: Provides that no person shall be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of enrollment or attendance at any public or nonpublic school 5/23/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 47, Edmonston
Learn how to fi nd archived video at the legisla Ɵ ve website by watching this video.
VACCINES/VACCINATION: Requires that communication issued about immunization requirements include exemption information and applies exemptions not only to students seeking to enter school but also to students attending school 6/3/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 60, Edmonston CRIME: Provides relative to the unauthorized use of sperm, ovum, or embryo 5/24/2024 Becomes Act 256; Effective May 24, 2024 HB 192, Miller SUNSET LAW: Re-creates the Louisiana Department of Health 5/8/2024 Becomes Act 20; Effective June 30, 2024 HB 193, Turner PHARMACIES: Authorizes the transfer of a prescription or prescription information for controlled substances between pharmacies in conformance with federal regulations 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 205; Effective August 1, 2024 HB 200, Melerine WORKERS COMPENSATION: Provides relative to past payments of workers' compensation premiums 6/2/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 204, Turner CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES: Adds substances to the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law 5/21/2024 Becomes Act 110; Effective August 1, 2024 h Ʃ ps://legis.la.gov/legis/ BillSearch.aspx?sid=last
Page 10
LSMS
The Legisla Ɵ ve Edi Ɵ on
June/July 2024
HB 314, McFarland APPROPRIATIONS/ANCILLARY: Provides for the ancillary expenses of state government 6/3/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 315, Johnson, M. PRESCRIPTION: Extends prescription on tort actions 6/3/2024 Becomes Act 423; Effective July 1, 2024 HB 329, Myers FUNDS/FUNDING: Provides with respect to Health Care Employment Reinvestment Opportunity (H.E.R.O.) Fund 6/11/2024 Becomes Act 607; Effective July 1, 2024 HB 335, Carver CHILDREN/ABUSE: Provides relative to mandatory reporters of child abuse 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 216; Effective May 23, 2024 HB 337, McFarland CIVIL/ACTIONS: Provides relative to direct action against an insurer 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 275; Effective August 1, 2024 HB 361, Stagni HEALTH/CANCER: Provides relative to colorectal screening 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 218; Effective August 1, 2024 HB 372, Crews HEALTH CARE/PROVIDERS: Provides relative to patient wait time for the provision of emergency care 5/31/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 374, Echols HEALTH CARE/FACILITIES: Provides relative to facility need review 5/31/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 392, Freeman MEDICAID: Provides relative to Medicaid and private insurance coverage for perimenopausal and menopausal care 5/31/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 393, Lyons MENTAL HEALTH: Requires support services for individuals with dementia 5/28/2024 Becomes Act 376; Effective August 1, 2024 HB 403, Echols TAX/SALES-USE, LOCAL-EXEM: Adds drugs prescribed for certain ocular conditions to the listing of prescription drugs exempt from local sales and use taxes 5/15/2024 Becomes Act 76; Effective July 1, 2024
LDH Secretary Ralph Abraham, MD, with Susan Bankston, MD, from Baton Rouge.
Sen. Bob Owen from Slidell with Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter from New Roads.
Steward Gordon, MD, from Baton Rouge with Reece Newsome, MD, from LaPlace.
Steen Trawick, MD, from Shreveport visits with Rep. Raymond Crews from his local legisla Ɵ ve delega Ɵ on.
Page 11
HB 421, Phelps HEALTH CARE/RECORDS: Requires healthcare providers to document a diagnosis of sickle cell disease on immunization records in certain circumstances 6/11/2024 Becomes Act 616; Effective August 1, 2024 HB 423, Melerine CIVIL/PROCEDURE: Provides for payment of recoverable medical expenses from collateral sources. 5/23/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 456, Davis EDUCATION: Provides relative to the administration of medication at school 5/28/2024 Becomes Act 378; Effective
August 1, 2024 HB 508, Bagley
INSURANCE/HEALTH: Provides relative to medical and surgical treatments of cancer 6/11/2024 Becomes Act 621; Effective August 1, 2024 HB 521, Freeman INSURANCE/LIFE: Prohibits the use of genetic information relative to life and long-term care insurance 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 224; Effective
August 1, 2024 HB 558, Turner
MEDICAID: Provides relative to the Local Healthcare Provider Participation Program 6/3/2024 Becomes Act 432; Effective June 3, 2024 HB 579, McMahen PHARMACISTS: Provides relative to pharmacist authorization to dispense HIV pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis 5/31/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 592, Miller HEALTH CARE/PROVIDERS: Provides relative to workplace violence in healthcare settings 6/11/2024 Becomes Act 624; Effective August 1, 2024 HB 602, Davis Reece Newsome, MD, from LaPlace is shown here with Neel Gupta, MD, and Nicole Freehill, MD, both from New Orleans.
HEALTH: Provides relative to stock emergency medications 5/30/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 603, Firment INSURANCE/HEALTH: Provides relative to claims of pharmacies and pharmacists 5/30/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 608, Wilder CIVIL/LAW: Provides with respect to the definition of male and female 6/3/2024 Becomes Act 436; Effective August 1, 2024
Page 12
LSMS
The Legisla Ɵ ve Edi Ɵ on
June/July 2024
HB 655, Miller MEDICAID: Provides relative to third-party liability requirements arising for prior authorizations and state claim inquiries 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 486; Effective May 23, 2024 HB 687, Butler HEALTH: Provides relative to the licensing of "PACE" program providers 6/3/2024 Becomes Act 444; Effective June 3, 2024 HB 716, Owen LICENSING: Provides for universal recognition of occupational licenses 6/10/2024 Becomes Act 568; Effective August 1, 2024 HB 828, Miller BOARDS/COMMISSIONS: Provides relative to the professional organization of medical psychologists 5/30/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 830, Egan DRUGS/CONTROLLED: Adds Tianeptine to Schedule I of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance Law 5/29/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 839, Hebert INSURANCE/HEALTH: Provides relative to step therapy or fail first protocols 6/3/2024 Becomes Act 453; Effective August 1, 2024 HB 846, Knox FISCAL CONTROLS: Provides relative to reporting on federal and state funding of mental health services 6/3/2024 Becomes Act 455; Effective July 1, 2024 HB 849, Illg HEALTH CARE/FACILITIES: Provides relative to healthcare outcomes for patient's suffering with behavioral health issues 5/30/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 853, Myers HEALTH/LDH: Creates the office of surgeon general within the Louisiana Department of Health 5/30/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 868, Egan MENTAL HEALTH: Provides relative to standards for psychiatric hospitals and residential substance abuse facilities 5/31/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 869, Phelps HEALTH/SICKLE CELL ANEM: Requires continuing education for the treatment of sickle cell disease for physicians and physician assistants 5/30/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 872, Miller STUDENTS: Provides relative to behavioral health services for students 5/30/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor h Ʃ ps://legis.la.gov/legis/ BillSearch.aspx?sid=last Watch our video to learn how to use the legisla Ɵ ve website to look up informa Ɵ on on any bill fi led.
Page 13
HB 896, Myers HEALTH SERVICES: Creates the Louisiana Remote Patient Monitoring Program Law 5/31/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 899, Wright HEALTH/MEDICAL TREATMENT: Provides relative to the Hope for Louisiana Patients Law 5/31/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 908, Amedee VACCINES/VACCINATION: Prohibits discrimination against students on the basis of vaccination status 6/3/2024 Becomes Act 460; Effective August 1, 2024 HB 954, Mena LICENSING: Provides relative to occupations and professions 6/11/2024 Becomes Act 644; Effective August 1, 2024 HB 961, Muscarello CORRECTIONS/PRISONERS: Provides relative to the
Learn how to fi nd archived video at the legisla Ɵ ve website by watching this video.
creation of a mental health transition pilot program 5/30/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HB 972, Deshotel
LICENSING: Allows the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to grant certain temporary permits and licenses 6/11/2024 Becomes Act 646; Effective August 1, 2024 HB 976, Owen HEALTH CARE/FACILITIES: Provides relative to visitation policies at certain healthcare facilities and requires such facilities to allow in-person visitation 6/3/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to the Governor HCR 3, McFarland HOSPITALS: Provides for a hospital stabilization formula 6/2/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to Secretary of State HCR 66, Melerine LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES: Provides for a joint legislative committee to study regulations regarding artificial intelligence 5/30/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to Secretary of State HCR 97, Echols PHYSICIANS: Requests the Louisiana Department of Health to continue the task force to study, identify, and make recommendations to address the shortage of specialist physicians in this state. 5/31/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to Secretary of State HCR 104, Freeman MEDICARE: Memorializes the United States Congress to preserve patient access to physician care by reforming the Medicare physician payment system 5/30/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to Secretary of State HR 207, Echols BOARDS/COMMISSIONS: Directs the Louisiana Department of Health to study and make recommendations on how to h Ʃ ps://legis.la.gov/legis/ BillSearch.aspx?sid=last
reduce the number of licensing boards of health professions 5/29/2024 Enrolled in the House, sent to Secretary of State
Page 14
LSMS
The Legisla Ɵ ve Edi Ɵ on
June/July 2024
SB 17, Mizell CONTROL DANGER SUBSTANCE: Adds Tianeptine to Schedule I of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance Law 5/22/2024 Becomes Act 143; Effective August 1, 2024 SB 46, McMath HEALTH DEPARTMENT: Creates the Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Advisory Council within the Louisiana Department of Health 5/22/2024 Becomes Act 121; Effective May 22, 2024 SB 48, Talbot GENETICS: Provides for health insurance coverage of genetic testing for diseases and other medical conditions 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 160; Effective May 23, 2024 SB 55, Carter
HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to post-birth information 5/22/2024 Becomes Act 122; Effective August 1, 2024 SB 56, Wheat STUDENTS: Provides for the administration of medication to students by certain practitioners 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 161; Effective May 23, 2024 SB 57, Lambert PSYCHOLOGISTS: Provides relative to the practice of psychology 5/28/2024 Becomes Act 286; Effective August 1, 2024 SB 58, Talbot INSURANCE POLICIES: Provides for patient's right to prompt coverage 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 162; Effective
May 23, 2024 SB 60, Pressly FEES/LICENSES/PERMITS: Provides relative to occupational licenses 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 253; Effective August 1, 2024 SB 70, Mizell HEALTH DEPARTMENT: Provides for parish overdose fatality review panels 6/10/2024 Becomes Act 498; Effective August 1, 2024 SB 92, Duplessis CHILDREN'S CODE: Provides relative to the Safe Haven Law 5/22/2024 Becomes Act 145; Effective August 1, 2024 SB 106, Barrow HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to obesity treatment 6/10/2024 Becomes Act 504; Effective August 1, 2024
Sen. Franklin Foil (C) of Baton Rouge is pictured with cons Ɵ tuents LSMS EVP, Je ff Williams and LSMS COL Chair, Ma Ʃ Giglia, MD.
Page 15
SB 133, Pressly PUBLIC HEALTH: Provides relative to certain international organizations 5/28/2024 Becomes Act 395; Effective May 28, 2024 SB 143, Barrow HEALTH CARE: Provides for hypertension screening 5/28/2024 Becomes Act 299; Effective May 28, 2024 SB 148, Mizell HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE: Provides relative to postpartum depression 5/28/2024 Becomes Act 301; Effective August 1, 2024 SB 160, Owen HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to physician assistants 5/28/2024 Becomes Act 303; Effective August 1, 2024 SB 165, McMath CONTRACTS: Provides relative to noncompetition agreements 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 273; Effective January 1, 2025 SB 190, Boudreaux MEDICAID: Provides for Medicaid reimbursement rate increases 5/28/2024 Becomes Act 306; Effective August 1, 2024 SB 219, McMath HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE: Provides relative to conversion requirements for health insurers 5/22/2024 Becomes Act 149; Effective May 22, 2024 SB 224, Owen PHARMACEUTICALS: Provides relative to opioid alternatives 5/28/2024 Becomes Act 320; Effective August 1, 2024 SB 228, McMath PHARMACEUTICALS: Provides relative to marijuana for therapeutic use 5/22/2024 Becomes Act 150; Effective May 22, 2024 SB 231, Duplessis MENTAL HEALTH: Provides regarding involuntary outpatient treatment for mental health 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 166; Effective August 1, 2024 SB 239, McMath DISEASE CONTROL: Provides relative to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 6/10/2024 Becomes Act 511; Effective June 10, 2024
Sen. Thomas Pressly, IV, of Shreveport with his father, Thomas Pressly, III, MD.
Terri Watson and Ragan LeBlanc communica Ɵ ng to our registrants the cancella Ɵ on of White Coat Wednesday.
Rep. Wayne McMahen of Springhill visits with Ashley Ingolia, MD, from Ponchatoula.
LDH Secretary Ralph Abraham, MD, was visibly
pleased to visit with physician peers from around Louisiana!
Page 16
LSMS
The Legisla Ɵ ve Edi Ɵ on
June/July 2024
SB 276, Pressly CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Creates the crime of coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud to prohibit a third-party from knowingly using an abortion-inducing drug to cause, or attempt to cause, an abortion on an unsuspecting pregnant mother without her knowledge or consent and amends various abortion criminal laws to add the crime of attempted abortion 5/28/2024 Enrolled in the Senate, sent to the Governor SB 278, Jackson-Andrews CHILDREN: Creates the Louisiana Pregnancy and Baby Care Initiative 5/28/2024 Becomes Act 329; Effective May 28, 2024 SB 296, Boudreaux HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to emergency medical services 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 171; Effective May 23, 2024 SB 300, Duplessis INSURANCE POLICIES: Provides for health insurance coverage of pregnancy-related and postpartum healthcare services 5/29/2024 Enrolled in the Senate, sent to the Governor SB 325, Edmonds WOMEN: Provides for an informational document to be made available to pregnant mothers following the diagnosis of a fetal genetic abnormality with respect to their unborn child 5/28/2024 Becomes Act 332; Effective August 1, 2024 SB 338, Boudreaux HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE: Requires health coverage plans to include alternative imaging methods to mammography 5/23/2024 Becomes Act 174; Effective May 23, 2024 SB 342, Harris HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to the Louisiana Tumor Registry 5/28/2024 Becomes Act 404; Effective May 28, 2024 SB 357, Seabaugh EMERGENCY POWERS: Provides relative to termination of a public health emergency 6/10/2024 Becomes Act 519; Effective June 10, 2024 SB 444, Jackson-Andrews PHARMACEUTICALS: Provides relative to pharmaceutical reimbursements 5/30/2024 Enrolled in the Senate, sent to the Governor SB 455, Barrow HEALTH SERVICES: Restricts the location of certain psychiatric facilities 6/11/2024 Becomes Act 588; Effective June 11, 2024 SB 487, Cathey HOSPITALS: Provides for hospital drug screenings 5/30/2024 Enrolled in the Senate, sent to the Governor SB 509, Duplessis PUBLIC HEALTH: Provides for violence prevention 5/31/2024 Enrolled in the Senate, sent to the Governor h Ʃ ps://legis.la.gov/legis/ BillSearch.aspx?sid=last Watch our video to learn how to use the legisla Ɵ ve website to look up informa Ɵ on on any bill fi led.
Page 17
SCR 23, Barrow HEALTH DEPARTMENT: Urges and requests the Louisiana Department of Health to study behavioral health demand and access. 5/15/2024 Enrolled in the Senate, sent to the Secretary of State SR 89, Carter HEALTH CARE: Requests the Louisiana Department of Health to develop a plan for decreasing regulatory barriers for free-standing birth centers. 6/3/2024 Enrolled in the Senate, sent to the Secretary of State
Senator Thomas Pressly welcomes recep Ɵ on a Ʃ endees from his home area of Shreveport. He is pictured here with Steen Trawick, MD; Chris Ɵ na Notarianni, MD; John Vanchiere, MD, PhD; Eric Bicknell, MD;
Joseph Bocchini, MD; Thomas Pressly, MD; Brandi Gaitan, and John Wagner, MD.
Pictured here from L to R are: Berkley Durbin, MedicineLouisiana; Bethany Blackson, LDH; Rahn Bailey, MD; Ma Ʃ hew Wallace, Christus; Maria Bowen, LSMS and Drew Maranto, LDH.
Page 18
LSMS
The Legisla Ɵ ve Edi Ɵ on
June/July 2024
Page 19
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software