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LouisianaSB 4652026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

HEALTH CARE: Provides for payments to healthcare providers. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

Sponsored By: Patrick McMath (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Insurance

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Tiny local governments gain insurance options

Beginning January 1, 2027, Louisiana local governments with fewer than two employees or officials gain individual insurance options. They may contract for policies covering hospitalization and retirement and match premiums or charges. Alternatively, they may reimburse an employee or official for payments toward such a policy. Local governments are not required to offer either option, and the law sets no required contribution amount.

Clearer claim notices for healthcare providers

Beginning January 1, 2027, insurers holding claims for review must provide online information or written notice within two business days. Department-approved claim procedures must track paper claims and prevent their loss. Payment statements must list patient and claim details, service dates, charges, discounts, patient liability, payments, and reasons for adjustments or denials. Louisiana’s Office of Group Benefits must follow the applicable claim receipt and processing standards, while specific exemptions remain. Contracts cannot waive the healthcare claims subpart’s requirements; any attempted waiver is void.

Dental providers gain repayment demand limits

Beginning January 1, 2027, dental contractors cannot reverse or demand repayment of claims more than 18 months after initial payment. This applies to dental care given in good faith under the benefit plan. Contractors also cannot demand repayment solely because coverage ended or the patient was ineligible after wrongly confirming coverage. That separate protection applies when the contractor had enough information to know its confirmation was wrong.

Faster claim decisions for medical providers

Beginning January 1, 2027, insurers must pay, deny, or hold complete paper claims from contracted providers within 30 calendar days. For care approved in advance, the deadline is 10 calendar days. Providers must meet the insurer’s filing deadline. Complete electronic claims require action within 10 days for care approved in advance, or 25 days for other care. Other paper claims generally require action within 45 days; late or resubmitted paper claims for approved care require payment within 10 days. These deadlines do not require payment for care the insurance contract does not cover.

Fewer late medical claim repayment demands

Beginning January 1, 2027, insurers generally cannot reverse or demand repayment of medical claims more than 12 months after initial payment. This replaces the 18-month limit and applies to care given in good faith under the plan. Any shorter deadline set by another law still applies. Insurers also cannot deny or recover payment because coverage ended once 90 days pass after the allowed claim-payment period. That protection also requires care given in good faith; the Office of Group Benefits remains exempt where specified.

Pharmacies gain payment deadlines and adjustments

Beginning January 1, 2027, insurers must pay complete paper pharmacy claims within 21 days when submitted within 45 days of service. Later claims and claims resubmitted because they were incomplete have a 30-day payment deadline. Other noncontractual prescription-drug claims require payment within 30 days after a complete uniform form is provided. Insurers and pharmacy benefit managers must follow department-approved procedures and pay electronically processed pharmacy claims within 15 days after processing. Late claims receive a 1% adjustment; issuers also owe 1% of the unpaid balance per month or partial month after 25 days beyond the deadline. These rules cover medicines, other products or supplies, and pharmacist services; payment deadlines pause for claims offices inside a governor-declared emergency area.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Patrick McMath

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 147 • No: 0

House vote • 5/26/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 100, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 100 • No: 0

House vote • 5/19/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/7/2026

Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays; ordered re-reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 770.

    6/1/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 1/1/2027.

    6/1/2026Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/29/2026House

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

    5/29/2026Senate

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

    5/28/2026Senate

  6. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 100, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

    5/26/2026House

  7. Received from the House with amendments.

    5/26/2026Senate

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

    5/25/2026House

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

    5/25/2026House

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/20/2026House

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

    5/19/2026House

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

    5/12/2026House

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

    5/11/2026House

  14. Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays; ordered re-reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/7/2026Senate

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

    5/6/2026Senate

  16. Reported with amendments.

    5/5/2026Senate

  17. Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.

    4/27/2026Senate

  18. Reported with amendments.

    4/22/2026Senate

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

    4/1/2026Senate

  20. 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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