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.
Table of Contents White Coat Wednesday May 21, 2025
Need to find out who your legislators are?
Agenda
2
Physician Requested Legislation
3
Physician Friendly Legislation
4
Want to read legislation?
Specialty Focus
5
Legislation You Will Get Asked About
6
Oppose SB 2 – Removing Fluoride
7
Oppose Insurance Legislation
8
Committee Meetings Today
9
Open this Packet Online
House Health and Welfare
10
House Insurance
11
Senate Health and Welfare
12
Senate Labor & Industrial Relations
13
Map
14
AGENDA White Coat Wednesday May 21, 2025
Need to find out who your legislators are?
Registration Pentagon Courtyard Breakfast & Briefings Pentagon Courtyard
7:30 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
Walk to Capitol
9:15 AM
Committee Meetings
Lunch House of Representatives Patio
Noon
Want to read legislation?
1:30 PM
Lobby the Legislature
Safe Travels & Thank You for Advocating for Medicine Today!
4:00 PM
Open this Packet Online
If you need assistance, please contact: Jeff Williams 225.229.8282 Ragan LeBlanc 225.268.2246 Amy Tyrell 225.788.8893 Lisa Lapeyrouse 225.572.4663
SUPPORT Physician Requested Legisla Ɵ on
HB 423 by Rep. Jeremy LaCombe modernizes exis Ɵ ng transparency law enabling pa Ɵ ents to be Ʃ er iden Ɵ fy who is providing their healthcare services. The bill requires healthcare professionals to display their creden Ɵ als when providing care and in any adver Ɵ sing to include print, electronic or social media. While requested by physicians, HB 423 has been embraced by many other provider groups. Please encourage legislators to support HB 423 and thank Rep. LaCombe for carrying the legisla Ɵ on for us.
B
SCR 13 by Sen. Thomas Pressly urges Congress to take ac Ɵ ons to curb the use of prior authoriza Ɵ ons. While Louisiana has enacted its own statute to be Ʃ er control the insurers use of u Ɵ liza Ɵ on management, it only captures roughly 13% of the commercial insurance market. To truly a ff ect the full market, Congress must act.
C
SCR 27 by Sen. Patrick McMath requests Congress to examine how corporate prac Ɵ ces are impac Ɵ ng the healthcare workforce and the healthcare delivery systems. It further urges a support of pa Ɵ ent-centered care focused on the needs of the pa Ɵ ent free from the pressure of corporate interference.
D
HCR *** by Rep. Chris Turner will focus on Pharmacy Bene fi t Managers (PBMs) and their impact on Louisiana ci Ɵ zens. It will urge Congress to 1) increase transparency, 2) require PBMs to pass on savings to consumers, 3) regulate an Ɵ -compe ƟƟ ve PBM business prac Ɵ ces, 4) enhance PBM oversight and 5) legislate PBM accountability measures.
E
HCR *** by Rep. Jeremy LaCombe expresses to Congress an urgent need to act on the use of Ar Ɵ fi cial Intelligence in medicine. It requests na Ɵ onwide standards for AI in healthcare that protects pa Ɵ ents and ensures that physicians retain control of medical decision making among other requests.
F
Working Together to Keep Physicians in Patient Care Louisiana State Medical Society * Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians * LA Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics * LA Chapter - American College of Cardiology LA Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons * Louisiana Orthopedic Association * Louisiana Osteopathic Medical Association * Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association Louisiana Society of Anesthesiologists * Louisiana Society of Interventional Pain Physicians * Medicine Louisiana * Radiological Society of Louisiana Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) - Monroe, LA * LA Chapter - American College of Emergency Physicians
SUPPORT Physician Friendly Legisla Ɵ on
HB 1 by Rep. Jack McFarland is Louisiana’s appropria Ɵ ons bill to provide for the ordinary opera Ɵ ng expenses of the state. Currently included in the bill is funding to raise reimbursement for certain professional services within the Medicaid program to 85% of the Medicare fee schedule. This is a result of Act 306 from 2024 which was championed by Sen. Gerald Boudreaux.
B
HB 275 by Rep. Stephanie Berault authorizes students who quali fi ed for a TOPS award as high school students but a Ʃ ended and graduated from an out of state college to apply unused awards to a Ʃ end a Louisiana medical or dental school. The award is granted as a loan which requires repayment should the student fail to prac Ɵ ce in Louisiana for three consecu Ɵ ve years upon comple Ɵ on of their residency program.
C
HB 539 by Rep. Stephanie Berault establishes a loan repayment program for physicians up to $150,000 ($30,000/year). To be eligible, physicians must work in Louisiana for a minimum of fi ve years providing clinical or surgical services and treat Medicaid and Medicare pa Ɵ ents. The legisla Ɵ on creates a “Health Workforce Needs Fund” in the State Treasury to receive grants and dona Ɵ ons.
D
SB 156 by Sen. Thomas Pressly focuses on in vitro fer Ɵ liza Ɵ on, provides for quali fi ca Ɵ ons to prac Ɵ ce in vitro fer Ɵ liza Ɵ on medicine, addresses liability protec Ɵ ons for physicians, and establishes rights of the human embryo.
E
SB 182 by Sen. Kirk Talbot originally sought to suspend Medicaid prior authoriza Ɵ ons for oncology services during a declared emergency. The bill was amended to include all healthcare services. The suspension is limited to Medicaid pa Ɵ ents residing in the designated emergency area.
F
Working Together to Keep Physicians in Patient Care Louisiana State Medical Society * Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians * LA Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics * LA Chapter - American College of Cardiology LA Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons * Louisiana Orthopedic Association * Louisiana Osteopathic Medical Association * Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association Louisiana Society of Anesthesiologists * Louisiana Society of Interventional Pain Physicians * Medicine Louisiana * Radiological Society of Louisiana Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) - Monroe, LA * LA Chapter - American College of Emergency Physicians
SPECIALTY Focus Each year, bills are introduced that impact the interests of a par Ɵ cular specialty. This page highlights several of those. Addic Ɵ on Medicine SB 154 by Sen. Jay Morris adds kratom to the Schedule 1 drug list and makes it illegal to possess. Supported by physicians and law enforcement, the bill is wai Ɵ ng for a fi nal vote on the House fl oor. Due to the ease of access and lack of research, proponents believe kratom needs to be removed from the market en Ɵ rely and not just regulated. HB 658 by Rep. Chris Turner establishes a permanent Medicaid Trust Fund for Addi Ɵ on Recovery to allow eligible funds to be invested now and used in the future. The fund can accept federal funds, li Ɵ ga Ɵ on se Ʃ lements and provider taxes as revenue—not state general funds. The fund will be leveraged to protect provider rates and to increase rates to align with health care in fl a Ɵ on. Dermatology HB 119 by Rep. Daryl Deshotel reduces the light transmission requirement for front seat car windows from 40% to 25%. This provides be Ʃ er sun screening to front seat occupants of vehicles. Pediatrics HB 408 by Rep. Kellee Dickerson requires health insurance coverage for pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome and related condi Ɵ ons. The legisla Ɵ on creates a “Legisla Ɵ ve Findings” sec Ɵ on that puts into law unproven asser Ɵ ons and controversial treatments. Pediatric Neurologists share that there is limited evidence that PANDAS exists and while autoimmune encephali Ɵ s is a real disease, it is rarely post infec Ɵ on. Our request is that these fi ndings be removed from the bill. HB 188 by Rep. Chuck Owen provides for a sales tax exemp Ɵ on for adap Ɵ ve driving equipment and vehicle modi fi ca Ɵ ons if prescribed by a physician, chiropractor or driver rehabilita Ɵ on specialist. Psychiatry SB 120 by Rep. Larry Selders allows an emergency cer Ɵ fi cate to include that a person is willing to seek voluntary admission upon arrival at the trea Ɵ ng facility. Emergency Medicine physicians have joined Psychiatrists in suppor Ɵ ng a need for clarity in the law to allow the issuance of an emergency cer Ɵ fi cate when a person expresses their willingness to self admit. Obstetrics SB 174 by Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews requires certain tes Ɵ ng and screening for pregnant women unless the pa Ɵ ent refuses. The bill expands the mandate to test for HIV and syphilis to include at labor and delivery, adds mandated tes Ɵ ng for chlamydia and gonorrhea at the fi rst prenatal visit and adds a mandated substance use disorder screening in the fi rst trimester. The HIV and syphilis tests are deemed medically necessary covered services with no prior authoriza Ɵ on nor u Ɵ liza Ɵ on management requirements.
Working Together to Keep Physicians in Patient Care Louisiana State Medical Society * Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians * LA Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics * LA Chapter - American College of Cardiology LA Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons * Louisiana Orthopedic Association * Louisiana Osteopathic Medical Association * Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association Louisiana Society of Anesthesiologists * Louisiana Society of Interventional Pain Physicians * Medicine Louisiana * Radiological Society of Louisiana Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) - Monroe, LA * LA Chapter - American College of Emergency Physicians
FYI Legisla Ɵ on For Your Visibility The legisla Ɵ on on this page is relevant to physicians, medicine or health care. Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the details as it is likely you will be asked for your thoughts. HB 138 by Rep. Jason DeWi Ʃ As originally fi led, HB 138 sought to add a Physician Assistant to the LSBME. An extremely encompassing amendment o ff ered by Rep. Peter Egan in House Health and Welfare essen Ɵ ally remakes the Board. Egan’s amendment: • Removes nomina Ɵ ng groups from statute in favor of 9 physicians appointed by the Governor, 1 from each LDH region—this e ff ec Ɵ vely eliminates seats designed to represent a specialty or minority • Deletes the consumer posi Ɵ on in favor of a rota Ɵ ng non-physician healthcare professional whose profession is regulated by the board—this is also a 4-year term, meaning it will be over 50 years before the current professions can cycle through • Repeals the grounds for removal from the board, making appointments and removals at the will of the Governor and adds language “under the auspices of the Louisiana Department of Health” In tes Ɵ mony, it was stated that the need for taking this ac Ɵ on was to help improve Louisiana healthcare outcomes. The LSBME is not currently tasked in law with improving healthcare outcomes. The statutory du Ɵ es of the Board include the protec Ɵ on of the public by regula Ɵ ng the prac Ɵ ce of medicine and licensees under their purview. HB 400 by Rep. Emily Chenevert HB 400 establishes 18 as the age for a pa Ɵ ent to consent to their own non-emergent medical and mental health care without parental consent. As amended, the bill includes the ability for another adult standing “in loco paren Ɵ s” to consent to care and treatment for the minor. There are also excep Ɵ ons:
• A pregnant minor seeking care related to the pregnancy • A minor seeking treatment for alcohol or substance misuse or sexually transmi Ʃ ed diseases
• A minor dona Ɵ ng blood • A minor who is 17 and a Ʃ ending college • A minor exhibi Ɵ ng signs of abuse or neglect
SB 14 by Sen. Patrick McMath SB 14 establishes a list of prohibited ingredients which are disallowed for school lunches and purchases made with SNAP bene fi ts and creates labeling requirements for foods that are made with these products. It further requires nurse prac ƟƟ oners, physicians assistants and physicians prac Ɵ cing family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology to complete a minimum of one hour of con Ɵ nuing educa Ɵ on on nutri Ɵ on and metabolic health every two years. While physicians champion healthy ea Ɵ ng, concerns include: • The bill iden Ɵ fi es a number of ar Ɵ fi cial sweeteners as prohibited ingredients, raising possible concerns for diabe Ɵ c children. • Con Ɵ nuing medical educa Ɵ on should be based on a physician’s prac Ɵ ce and cer Ɵ fi ca Ɵ on requirements not on a legisla Ɵ ve mandate. SB 19 by Sen. Mike Fesi SB 19 erodes the physician-pa Ɵ ent rela Ɵ onship by removing the need for a prescrip Ɵ on for ivermec Ɵ n. The bill authorizes a pharmacist to dispense ivermec Ɵ n pursuant to a standing order issued by Louisiana Department of Health and requires the Louisiana Department of Health to promulgate rules establishing procedures for dispensing. Most physicians believe this to be unnecessary as there is not a public purpose served by allowing pa Ɵ ents to self treat with ivermec Ɵ n. Concerns include the physician’s ability to clearly determine under what circumstances care may be provided and a minor’s inability to access needed care.
Working Together to Keep Physicians in Patient Care Louisiana State Medical Society * Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians * LA Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics * LA Chapter - American College of Cardiology LA Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons * Louisiana Orthopedic Association * Louisiana Osteopathic Medical Association * Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association Louisiana Society of Anesthesiologists * Louisiana Society of Interventional Pain Physicians * Medicine Louisiana * Radiological Society of Louisiana Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) - Monroe, LA * LA Chapter - American College of Emergency Physicians
OPPOSE SB 2 SB 2 by Sen. Mike Fesi would ban fl uorida Ɵ on of any public water system in Louisiana unless approved by local elec Ɵ on. This would have massive implica Ɵ ons for the dental health (and eventually overall health) of many Louisianians. Fluoride is a natural substance found in soil, water, and rocks. It is proven to prevent tooth decay (the development of dental cavi Ɵ es). Over 80 years of scien Ɵ fi c evidence show that community water fl uorida Ɵ on at the op Ɵ mal amount is a safe and e ff ec Ɵ ve way to prevent tooth decay and has played a major role in improving the public’s oral health. Most water naturally contains some fl uoride, but usually not enough to prevent cavi Ɵ es. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends 0.7 mg/L (0.7 ppm) as the op Ɵ mal concentra Ɵ on of fl uoride in water to help prevent tooth decay. Water fl uorida Ɵ on is an important public health interven Ɵ on that reduces oral health dispari Ɵ es and increases the health of the popula Ɵ on. Promo Ɵ on of its safety and e ff ec Ɵ veness is cri Ɵ cal to maintaining its widespread acceptance and ensuring its con Ɵ nued use. It is cost e ff ec Ɵ ve! According to the American Dental Associa Ɵ on (ADA), the average life Ɵ me cost per person to fl uoridate a water supply is less than the cost of just one dental fi lling. For most municipali Ɵ es, every $1 invested in water fl uorida Ɵ on saves $38 in dental treatment costs. Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases among American children with 1 of 4 children living below the federal poverty level experiencing untreated tooth decay. Untreated decay can cause pain, school absences, di ffi culty concentra Ɵ ng, and poor appearance—all contribu Ɵ ng to decreased quality of life and ability to succeed. Tooth decay and its complica Ɵ ons are preventable, and community water fl uorida Ɵ on is an early treatment op Ɵ on that is safe, e ff ec Ɵ ve, and economical.
For
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According CDC, community water fl uorida Ɵ on is a prac Ɵ cal, cost-e ff ec Ɵ ve, and equitable way for communi Ɵ es to improve their residents’ oral health regardless of age, educa Ɵ on, or income. to the
More than half of Louisiana’s Medicaid-eligible children have not seen a den Ɵ st, and the only fl uoride they receive is through the water they drink. Who Bene fi ts Most?
developmentally disabled children and adults who some Ɵ mes have trouble brushing their teeth, the topical fl uoride that received from drinking water is a source of protec Ɵ on.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): For FY2023, the total number of Louisiana Medicaid eligible children (age <1-20) receiving any dental services was 402,647 or 45.28%. As of February 2025, there is a total of 860,470 adults over the age of 21 enrolled in Medicaid who do not have comprehensive dental coverage.
Working Together to Keep Physicians in Patient Care Louisiana State Medical Society * Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians * LA Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics * LA Chapter - American College of Cardiology LA Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons * Louisiana Orthopedic Association * Louisiana Osteopathic Medical Association * Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association Louisiana Society of Anesthesiologists * Louisiana Society of Interventional Pain Physicians * Medicine Louisiana * Radiological Society of Louisiana Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) - Monroe, LA * LA Chapter - American College of Emergency Physicians
OPPOSE
Insurance Legisla Ɵ on
Tort Reform and Auto Insurance
Oppose SB 231 by Senator Reese Senate Bill 231 includes a provision to cap the amount a pa Ɵ ent can recover for medical expenses in personal injury cases at 300% of the Medicare rate. This is government mandated rate se ƫ ng and a bad precedent. Capping recoveries is an unnecessary and arbitrary interference with fair, market-based compensa Ɵ on for medical services and would likely result in injured par Ɵ es having less access to care and provider choice. Addi Ɵ onally, pa Ɵ ents will s Ɵ ll be responsible for a bill they may be unable to pay. Physicians con Ɵ nue to be unfairly vili fi ed in the tort reform ba Ʃ le. It has not been demonstrated that medical expenses are driving an increase in property and casualty insurance premiums. Physicians request to be removed from the legisla Ɵ on.
Workers Compensa Ɵ on Insurance
Oppose HB117 by Representa Ɵ ve Echols House Bill 117 authorizes the Assistant Secretary of the O ffi ce of Workers Compensa Ɵ on to promulgate a worker’s compensa Ɵ on reimbursement schedule which shall be reasonable and have similar characteris Ɵ cs of surrounding states. The subjec Ɵ ve determina Ɵ on of “reasonableness” will lead to a vast discrepancy among various districts and result in physicians having to defend their rates charged for services. We are requested this be converted to a study resolu Ɵ on that includes physician groups in the conversa Ɵ on.
Working Together to Keep Physicians in Patient Care Louisiana State Medical Society * Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians * LA Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics * LA Chapter - American College of Cardiology LA Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons * Louisiana Orthopedic Association * Louisiana Osteopathic Medical Association * Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association Louisiana Society of Anesthesiologists * Louisiana Society of Interventional Pain Physicians * Medicine Louisiana * Radiological Society of Louisiana Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) - Monroe, LA * LA Chapter - American College of Emergency Physicians
Today’s Commi Ʃ ee Mee Ɵ ngs
House of Representa Ɵ ves Commi Ʃ ees
Revenue Es Ɵ ma Ɵ ng Natural Resources Health and Welfare
8 AM—HCR 2 9 AM—HCR 4
9:30 AM—HCR 5 9:30 AM—HCR 3 10 AM—HCR 6
Insurance
Criminal Jus Ɵ ce
Senate Commi Ʃ ees
Senate and Governmental A ff airs 9 AM—Room F Insurance
9:30 AM—Room A-B 10 AM—Hainkel Room
Health and Welfare
Transporta Ɵ on
1 PM—Room E 1 PM—Room C 1 PM—Room F
Labor and Industrial Rela Ɵ ons Local and Municipal A ff airs
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Committee Room 5 9:30 a.m. INSTRUMENTS TO BE HEARD: Weekly Committee Schedule HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Committee on Health and Welfare
HB 265
MENA
EMERGENCY MED TECH Provides with respect to prohibitions regarding the employment of ambulance drivers convicted of certain offenses Urges the Louisiana Department of Health to develop a program for early breast cancer screening HEALTH/CANCER PUBLIC HEALTH Provides relative to public water systems. (1/1/26) PUBLIC HEALTH Provides relative to nutrition. (See Act) PHARMACEUTICALS Provides relative to the dispensing of ivermectin. (gov sig)
HCR 44
BOYD
SB 2
FESI
SB 14
MCMATH
SB 19
FESI
Any interested person or any committee member may file with the committee a prepared statement concerning a specific instrument or matter under consideration by the committee or concerning any matter within the committee's scope of authority, and the committee records shall reflect receipt of such statement and the date and time thereof. NOTE: Statements may be filed with the House Committee on Health and Welfare via email at h-hw@legis.la.gov. Statements submitted, and the information contained therein, are public records and subject to disclosure pursuant to public records laws. Audio/visual presentations, such as PowerPoint, shall be filed with the House Committee on Health and Welfare via email at h-hw@legis.la.gov at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled start of the committee meeting. No flash or thumb drives will be accepted.
LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENTS MAY BE DELETED (DOES NOT REQUIRE HOUSE RULES SUSPENSION) OR ADDED (REQUIRES HOUSE RULES SUSPENSION) PRIOR TO THE MEETING DATE. (HOUSE RULES 14.23 AND 14.24) SEE THE DAILY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS POSTED PRIOR TO MEETING DATE.
DUSTIN MILLER Chair
Page 2 of 2
INS WEEKLY 052025.wpd
Weekly Committee Schedule HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Committee on Insurance Tuesday, May 20, 2025
NO MEETING IS SCHEDULED
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Committee Room 3 9:30 a.m. INSTRUMENTS TO BE HEARD:
SB 129
PRESSLY
INSURERS Requires health insurers to cover proton therapy for cancer patients. (8/1/25) HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE Provides for health insurance coverage for retired employees of district attorneys' offices. (8/1/25)
SB 138
KLEINPETER
Any interested person or any committee member may file with the committee a prepared statement concerning a specific instrument or matter under consideration by the committee or concerning any matter within the committee's scope of authority, and the committee records shall reflect receipt of such statement and the date and time thereof. NOTE: Statements may be filed with the House Committee on Insurance via email at h-ins@legis.la.gov. Statements submitted, and the information contained therein, are public records and subject to disclosure pursuant to public records laws. Audio/visual presentations, such as PowerPoint, shall be filed with the House Committee on Insurance via email at h-ins@legis.la.gov at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled start of the committee meeting. No flash or thumb drives will be accepted.
LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENTS MAY BE DELETED (DOES NOT REQUIRE HOUSE RULES SUSPENSION) OR ADDED (REQUIRES HOUSE RULES SUSPENSION) PRIOR TO THE MEETING DATE. (HOUSE RULES 14.23 AND 14.24) SEE THE DAILY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS POSTED PRIOR TO MEETING DATE.
MICHAEL "GABE" FIRMENT Chair