RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 657 (HB 602) 2024 Regular Session Davis
New law defines "life-saving medications", "qualified entity", and "trained personnel".
New law allows a licensed healthcare professional to prescribe life-saving medications
maintained in the name of a qualified entity for use.
New law allows a licensed pharmacist and physician to dispense life-saving medications in
accordance with a prescription issued pursuant to new law.
New law allows a qualified entity to maintain a stock supply of life-saving medications in
accordance with a prescription issued pursuant to new law.
New law allows a qualified entity to authorize trained personnel to administer life-saving
medications to an individual on the qualified entity's premises or during a qualified entity-
affiliated activity with whom the trained personnel believes in good faith is experiencing a
medical emergency. New law further allows such training to be performed by a medical
emergency training organization, a registered nurse, or a licensed physician.
New law requires a standing protocol for a licensed healthcare professional authorized to
dispense or prescribe the necessary medication, regardless of whether the individual has a
prescription for a life-saving medication.
New law allows the qualified entity to enter into arrangements with manufacturers of life-
saving medications or third-party suppliers of life-saving medications to obtain life-saving
medications at fair-market, free, or reduced prices.
New law exempts the following persons and entities from being liable for damages in a civil
action for injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises from an act or
omission associated with the administration or self-administration of a life-saving
medication, unless such act or omission was the result of willful or wanton misconduct:
(1) A qualified entity.
(2) A qualified entity's employee, agent, or volunteer.
(3) A licensed healthcare professional authorized to prescribe or dispense life-saving
medications.
(4) A training organization and its personnel.
New law authorizes the secretary of the La. Dept. of Health (LDH) to issue a standing order
for the prescription of life-saving medications on a state-wide basis under certain conditions
that he determines to be in the best interest of the people in this state. New law further
authorizes the secretary of LDH to appoint a designee if the secretary is not a physician and
establishes certain requirements for the designee to issue a standing order on behalf of the
secretary in accordance with new law.
New law requires LDH to promulgate rules to implement new law. New law further requires
the rules promulgated by LDH to include a list of life-saving medications that may be
prescribed, dispensed, and maintained in accordance with new law.
Effective August 1, 2024.
(Adds R.S. 40:1142)