Senate Health and Welfare reported House Bill 486 as amended June 8. The bill gives parents the option to have a private provider perform a mental‑health assessment for their child at the parents’ request.

Senator Andrews moved favorable passage. During the hearing, Kim Humboldt, general counsel for the Louisiana Department of Health, said the committee adopted an amendment to broaden which behavioral‑health providers could be used: rather than limiting the list to providers enrolled in MCOs, the amendment allows providers listed on either the department’s licensed‑behavioral‑health‑service‑provider list or on professional occupational‑board lists.

Humboldt said the change was intended to ensure any licensed provider, not only those enrolled in Medicaid managed‑care organizations, would be eligible for the assessments.

Senator Andrews moved to report the bill as amended; the committee recorded no objections. Two witnesses registered in opposition did not speak: Jill Hines of Health Freedom Louisiana and Ben Lemoine.