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Committee advances multiple health bills, including NEMT rate increase and rural hospital protections
Summary
On April 23 the committee reported several bills favorably (HB 10 95, HB 12 20, HB 10 28, HB 11 85, HCR 76) addressing nursing‑facility backup power, medical‑board governance, NEMT reimbursements (fiscal note $2.6M), rural hospital payments, and a rural health task force renewal.
The House Committee on Health and Welfare advanced a package of bills and a resolution on April 23 that touch on nursing‑facility emergency power, board governance, Medicaid transportation reimbursements and rural hospital payment protections.
HB 10 95 (Rep. Abare) would allow nursing facilities more flexibility to use alternative power generation methods while leaving safety and runtime requirements in place; the committee reported the bill favorably by motion with no objection.
HB 12 20 (Rep. Lacombe) updates membership and procedures for the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners; the committee adopted amendment set 4326 (membership/technical changes) and reported the bill favorably.
HB 10 28 (Rep. Lyons) would set minimum trip and mileage reimbursement rates for non‑emergency medical transportation providers under Medicaid. Testimony from providers emphasized the bill’s importance to keep drivers and providers in business. The sponsor reported a fiscal note of $2,600,000 (annual) and the committee reported the bill favorably and referred it to the Appropriations Committee.
HB 11 85 (Chairman Miller) would extend certain payment methodologies and protections to additional rural hospitals (rural 'look‑alikes') while preserving the Rural Preservation Act protections for qualifying community hospitals; the committee adopted amendments and reported the bill favorably.
House Concurrent Resolution 76 (Chairman Miller) renews the health inequities and disparities in rural areas task force created in 2022 and requests a written report by 02/01/2027; the committee moved the resolution forward without objection.
Several supporters and industry representatives provided brief testimony in favor of the bills. Where fiscal impacts were mentioned, the transcript recorded a $2.6 million fiscal note for HB 10 28. The bills now move to the next legislative steps noted in committee actions.
