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LouisianaSB 4642026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to coverage for severe obesity treatment. (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

Sponsored By: Regina Barrow (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Insurance

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Stronger severe obesity coverage in Louisiana

For Louisiana insurers offering qualified health plans, required severe-obesity treatment coverage no longer depends on the state benchmark plan. Starting January 1, 2028, insurers cannot set numerical service caps when the published funding ratio is at least 1.0. Below 1.0, insurers can set caps, but each cap must meet the law’s minimum. That minimum equals the minimum coverage standard times the insurer’s member-months from its most recent plan year, rounded up. Plan documents must state the actual cap as a number, not a formula.

Yearly funding checks for obesity treatment

By August 1, 2026, and annually afterward, qualified health plan insurers must submit treatment cost estimates for 2028 and later years. An American Academy of Actuaries member must prepare them using generally accepted actuarial methods. Estimates must include all costs, the assumed population, expected services per member-month, total costs, and costs per member-month. Instead of the former Louisiana Department of Health review for benchmark-plan coverage, the Department of Insurance must publish estimated state costs. Publication is due by December 1, 2026, and annually afterward. By July 1, 2027, and annually afterward, it must notify insurers and plans of the funding ratio and minimum coverage standard. The ratio equals state funds appropriated for these services divided by the published estimated cost. The coverage standard equals expected total services per member-month times that ratio; the law states no specific funding amount.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Regina Barrow

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 126 • No: 10

House vote • 5/19/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 80, nays 10. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 80 • No: 10

House vote • 5/12/2026

Reported favorably

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/5/2026

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

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 519.

    5/29/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 5/29/2026.

    5/29/2026Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/25/2026House

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

    5/21/2026Senate

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

    5/20/2026Senate

  6. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 80, nays 10. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

    5/19/2026House

  7. Received from the House without amendments.

    5/19/2026Senate

  8. Read by title, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/18/2026House

  9. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/19/2026.

    5/18/2026House

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/13/2026House

  11. Reported favorably (11-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/12/2026House

  12. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Insurance.

    5/7/2026House

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

    5/6/2026House

  14. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/5/2026Senate

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

    4/29/2026Senate

  16. Reported with amendments.

    4/28/2026Senate

  17. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Insurance.

    4/1/2026Senate

  18. Introduced in the Senate. Read by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

    3/31/2026Senate

Bill Text

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