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LouisianaSB 2222026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Provides for Medicaid behavioral health services. (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

Sponsored By: Thomas A. Pressly (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Health and Welfare

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Fewer paperwork barriers for Medicaid mental healthcare

Louisiana's health department and Medicaid managed care plans cannot require pre-employment reference letters, but can still verify work history, licenses, education, and required experience. They cannot require CPR, first aid, or seizure assessment training for enrollment, staff approval, or payment, except where law or licensing rules require it in residential, inpatient, or medication-administration programs. Licensing-board supervision counts when it meets or exceeds program standards, and the department cannot require duplicate supervision where requirements overlap. For community psychiatric support and treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation, progress notes must follow federal guidance: during service or as soon as practical afterward. Any general deadline must allow reasonable exceptions, including declared emergencies; late entries must state the entry date and reason for delay.

Louisiana must seek Medicaid telehealth rehabilitation coverage

Louisiana's health department must request federal approval for Medicaid payment for psychosocial rehabilitation delivered through telehealth by October 1, 2026. It must submit any needed state plan amendment, waiver, or other request to the federal Medicaid agency. The law does not itself authorize payment; federal approval is required. The department must report its submission to the House and Senate Health and Welfare Committees within 30 days. It must also report federal requests or denials within 30 days of receiving them.

More staffing options for Medicaid mental healthcare

Louisiana Medicaid providers of community psychiatric support and treatment or psychosocial rehabilitation have more staffing options. When nursing employment or a nursing-services agreement is required only for medication administration, a licensed physician, psychiatrist, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant can meet it. Their duties must include medication administration, and they must stay within their license. Medical directors can be physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, medical psychologists, or physician assistants. Directors need a current, unrestricted Louisiana license, at least two years of psychiatric treatment experience, and any legally required collaboration agreement or supervision.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Thomas A. Pressly

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 140 • No: 0

House vote • 5/11/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 92, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 92 • No: 0

House vote • 4/29/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 36 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 476.

    5/29/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 5/29/2026.

    5/29/2026Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/25/2026House

  4. Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/21/2026Senate

  5. Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.

    5/21/2026Senate

  6. Rules suspended. Called from the Calendar.

    5/20/2026Senate

  7. Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.

    5/18/2026Senate

  8. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 92, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

    5/11/2026House

  9. Received from the House with amendments.

    5/11/2026Senate

  10. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/11/2026.

    5/7/2026House

  11. Read by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/6/2026House

  12. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/5/2026House

  13. Reported with amendments (12-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    4/29/2026House

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

    4/13/2026House

  15. Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.

    4/9/2026House

  16. Called from the Calendar.

    4/8/2026Senate

  17. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    4/8/2026Senate

  18. Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.

    3/31/2026Senate

  19. Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.

    3/30/2026Senate

  20. Reported with amendments.

    3/25/2026Senate

  21. Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

    3/9/2026Senate

  22. Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

    2/26/2026Senate

Bill Text

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