Bill > HB117

This bill amends Louisiana's workers' compensation medical reimbursement regulations to establish a more comprehensive and transparent process for setting healthcare provider payment rates. The legislation requires the assistant secretary of the office of workers' compensation administration to create a reimbursement schedule that is reasonable and comparable to those in surrounding states, with an initial schedule to be implemented on January 1, 2026. The bill expands the responsibilities of the office by mandating that they examine ways to reduce administrative burdens for healthcare providers, explore methods to improve patient care access, and involve external stakeholders in the rate-setting process. The reimbursement schedule will be based on data collected through a carefully designed survey managed by the office in collaboration with an academic institution, with strict guidelines to ensure data privacy and statistical reliability. Importantly, the bill requires quarterly reporting to legislative committees, providing oversight and transparency in the rate-setting process. These changes aim to create a more efficient, fair, and adaptable system for determining medical fees in workers' compensation cases.

Labor and Employment

https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=25rs&b=HB117&sbi=y