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LouisianaSB 4082026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

WORKERS' COMPENSATION: Provides relative to the workers' compensation reimbursement schedule. (gov sig) (EN INCREASE SD EX See Note)

Sponsored By: Brach Jerad Myers (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Labor and Industrial Relations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

11 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 6 mixed.

Injured workers gain treatment approval protections

Properly submitted office-visit and diagnostic-test requests are approved unless the payor specifically denies them within five business days. This also covers chiropractic treatment of 12 visits or fewer and physical therapy of 12 visits or fewer. Requests must include information required by state treatment rules; for qualifying nonsurgical care, providers can seek a director’s authorization order within five business days. A party can appeal a timely denial concerning the treatment schedule or a needed exception, with a decision due within 30 calendar days after filing. The law removes the former 15-calendar-day appeal filing deadline.

Electronic medical bills get payment deadlines

Beginning July 1, 2027, Louisiana workers’ compensation medical claims must use electronic 837 billing or its successor and meet federal transaction and HIPAA standards. Payors must report known defects or rejection reasons within five business days; without notice, the provider’s claim counts as timely submitted. Payors must pay within 30 days after receiving a complete electronic bill that follows billing rules, with fines and interest for noncompliance. The state medical services office must decide covered billing and payment disputes within 15 business days; the losing party pays review costs. Denied claims later ordered paid earn 12% annual interest from denial; appeals are due within 30 days after certified-mail receipt, and same-provider/payor disputes may be combined.

Workers face preliminary hearing objection deadlines

Employers or payors that follow required notice rules may seek a preliminary workers’ compensation decision. Workers must object within 21 business days after receiving required supporting documents or lose the objection. Employers or payors must share documents they rely on within 10 business days after requesting a hearing. The judge must issue a preliminary decision within 15 days after the hearing; related response, compliance, and trial-election periods use business days. Failure to comply with the decision may expose employers or payors to penalties and attorney fees.

Workers get prompt benefit change notices

Once notified of a claim, employers and payors must notify injured workers within three business days after an initial compensation payment. The same deadline follows a benefit change, suspension, termination, or formal dispute taking effect. They must send the state office its copy on the same date and also notify the worker’s attorney when represented. Notice may use certified mail, commercial carrier, email, or hand delivery; workers must provide a mailing address when requested. These notice rules do not cover medical-necessity questions or disputes over reimbursement amounts.

Online treatment approvals for injured workers

The state workers’ compensation office may create a statewide online portal for medical-care approval requests. The portal must track requests, responses, and supporting medical records. The office may test it in selected areas or with selected payors before statewide use. The law allows the portal but does not require its creation.

Tracking care quality for injured workers

By January 1, 2031, the state must start a program to measure and improve injured workers’ medical care. It may track return-to-work time, recovery, disability duration, treatment length, and use of evidence-based treatment guidelines. The program may use workers’ compensation database information where appropriate.

Employers get longer to resolve benefit demands

Employers and payors now have 10 business days, up from seven, after receiving a worker’s returned form or demand letter. Providing the claimed benefit, including overdue amounts, within that period bars related penalties and attorney fees. Workers may file a disputed claim without waiting if their legal filing deadline falls within those 10 business days. The employer or payor still keeps the full period to provide the benefit.

Private claims data, stronger enforcement penalties

Workers’ compensation database information is confidential, cannot be subpoenaed, and can be used only for legally allowed purposes. Public reports must use combined or de-identified data; confidentiality violations carry a misdemeanor fine of up to $500 per offense. The state may audit suspected threats to data reliability, and payors must provide needed records or face up to $10,000 daily. Other violations carry up to $500 daily after written notice and a chance to fix them, plus up to $10,000 daily for willful violations. Knowing use, sale, or transfer of protected data for commercial advantage, financial or personal gain, or malicious harm carries up to $50,000 per violation.

Higher payments for covered implant materials

Workers’ compensation payors must reimburse covered plastic or metallic implants and graft materials not taken from the patient at invoice cost plus 20%. The cost must come from the original manufacturer’s or authorized distributor’s invoice. Providers or suppliers receive the higher payment, and payors bear the added cost.

Medical fee updates require public oversight

Existing workers’ compensation medical fees and related rules stay in place until a revised schedule is adopted and issued. By July 1, 2029, the state must begin formal rulemaking using Louisiana claims data, including hospital and surgery payments, regional payment ranges, care access, and service use. The state must publish its calculation method and submit the proposed schedule and actuarial cost analysis; changes require legislative approval and the governor’s signature. An informational analysis is due at least 30 days before the 2029 Regular Session. If no replacement is adopted and implemented by July 1, 2029, the state must issue fallback rules based on usual and customary charges from the database.

New reporting rules for workers’ compensation

Louisiana’s workers’ compensation office must maintain a database of medical and pharmacy claims to track payments, care, and possible fraud. Beginning January 1, 2027, all workers’ compensation payors must report data for claims under Louisiana law. Reports are quarterly unless state reimbursement rules require another schedule. Required data include injury dates, employer industry, providers, service and drug codes, charges, allowed and paid amounts, review actions, and claim status. Payors must follow the office’s reporting rules; the law sets no direct household payment or specific appropriation.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Brach Jerad Myers

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 257 • No: 10

House vote • 5/29/2026

Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 83, nays 7. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.

Yes: 83 • No: 7

Senate vote • 5/29/2026

Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays.

Yes: 35 • No: 0

House vote • 5/26/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 5/13/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 7 • No: 3

Senate vote • 5/6/2026

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays; ordered re- reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 766.

    6/3/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 8/1/2026.

    6/3/2026Senate

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

    6/1/2026Senate

  4. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    6/1/2026House

  5. Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate on 6/2/2026.

    6/1/2026Senate

  6. Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.

    5/31/2026Senate

  7. Senate conference committee members appointed: Myers, Luneau, and Pressly.

    5/29/2026Senate

  8. Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.

    5/29/2026House

  9. Rules suspended.

    5/29/2026Senate

  10. Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays.

    5/29/2026Senate

  11. Rules suspended.

    5/29/2026House

  12. Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 83, nays 7. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.

    5/29/2026House

  13. Notice of Senate conferees appointed.

    5/29/2026House

  14. Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.

    5/29/2026House

  15. Notice of Senate rejecting House amendments.

    5/27/2026House

  16. House conferees appointed: Glorioso, Crews, and Bamburg.

    5/27/2026House

  17. Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.

    5/27/2026Senate

  18. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

    5/26/2026House

  19. Received from the House with amendments.

    5/26/2026Senate

  20. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/26/2026.

    5/25/2026House

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

    5/20/2026House

  22. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/19/2026House

  23. Read by title, amended, recommitted to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

    5/18/2026House

  24. Discharged from the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

    5/18/2026House

  25. Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/18/2026House

Bill Text

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