Senate Bill No. by Senator Fesi amends existing law regarding nursing facilities within the South Lafourche Levee District. The bill introduces an exception to the current moratorium on new nursing facilities, allowing for the licensing of one additional nursing facility in the district. Specifically, it modifies R.S. 40:2116.1(A)(3) to clarify that no new facility can be licensed without departmental approval, except for the newly permitted facility in the South Lafourche Levee District. Additionally, it enacts R.S. 40:2116.1(A)(4) and (B)(2)(e) to formally exempt this new facility from the facility need review process and the moratorium.

The proposed law retains the existing regulations that prohibit the Louisiana Department of Health from licensing new nursing facilities or expanding existing ones without specific circumstances. However, it creates a clear pathway for the establishment of one additional nursing facility within the South Lafourche Levee District, effective August 1, 2024. This change aims to address the needs of the community while adhering to the overall regulatory framework governing nursing facilities in Louisiana.

Statutes affected:
SB380 Original: 40:1(A)(3)