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LouisianaHB 9152026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

MEDICAID: Provides with respect to utilization management practices (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

Sponsored By: Kellee Hennessy Dickerson (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Health and Welfare

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Medicaid claims gain stronger payment protections

Medicaid plans cannot withdraw approval after care is provided or reduce payment for care delivered based on that approval. This protection excludes approvals based on a provider’s material omission or false statement about the patient’s health. Plans that miss a required decision deadline cannot deny a claim because it lacked prior approval.

Clearer Medicaid approval rules and denials

Louisiana’s health department and Medicaid plans must give providers prior approval rules, including pharmacy rules, within 24 hours of a request. They can instead post easily searchable rules online, showing the last review date. After denying prior approval, they must notify the requesting provider in writing within two business days. Denials based on laws, rules, policies, procedures, or medical guidelines must include those materials or instructions for finding them.

Medicaid care reviews get firm deadlines

The health department and Medicaid plans must keep written review and notice procedures and decide as quickly as patients’ health requires. After needed medical information arrives, standard approvals are due within seven calendar days; hospital admission approvals are due within two. Reviews of ongoing care and behavioral health crisis services requiring prior approval are due within one calendar day. Community Psychiatric Support and Treatment and Psychosocial Rehabilitation approvals are due within seven calendar days. Standard deadlines can gain up to seven calendar days at the patient’s or provider’s request. Plans can also justify extra time to the health department for needed information when it serves the patient’s best interest. Reviews after care is provided are due within 30 calendar days after needed medical results arrive.

Urgent Medicaid decisions due within 72 hours

Medicaid plans must decide urgent requests and give notice as quickly as needed, within 72 hours after receiving the request. This applies when the provider identifies, or the plan finds, that standard timing risks serious harm to life, health, or function. The risk can involve gaining, keeping, or regaining the patient’s highest level of function. Patients or providers can request up to seven additional calendar days. The health department can also approve that extension for needed medical records when it serves the patient’s best interest.

Medicaid record requests get limits and conditions

For incomplete reviews, insurers must identify missing information within one calendar day and allow at least two business days to respond. Needed information includes results of any required face-to-face exam or second opinion. Medicaid plans must accept evidence-based information, maintain a record-submission process, and collect only information and record sections needed for approval. Decisions must use medical information in the patient’s records obtained through the time of the decision. Insurers can deny approval for an admission, procedure, or service if the patient or provider refuses to release needed information.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kellee Hennessy Dickerson

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 244 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/21/2026

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 35 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2026

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2026

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 4/1/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 572.

    5/29/2026House

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

    5/29/2026House

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    5/26/2026House

  4. Received from the Senate without amendments.

    5/25/2026House

  5. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/25/2026House

  6. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/25/2026Senate

  7. Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/21/2026Senate

  8. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

    5/18/2026Senate

  9. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/14/2026Senate

  10. Reported favorably.

    5/13/2026Senate

  11. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

    4/20/2026Senate

  12. Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

    4/15/2026Senate

  13. Called from the calendar.

    4/14/2026House

  14. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    4/14/2026House

  15. Notice given.

    4/13/2026House

  16. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/14/2026.

    4/13/2026House

  17. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

    4/9/2026House

  18. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/09/2026.

    4/8/2026House

  19. Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

    4/7/2026House

  20. Reported with amendments (11-0).

    4/1/2026House

  21. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

    3/9/2026House

  22. Prefiled.

    2/27/2026House

  23. Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

    2/27/2026House

  24. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

    2/27/2026House

Bill Text

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