House Bill No. by Representative Mike Johnson seeks to expand the application of medical malpractice laws in Louisiana to include physical therapist assistants and occupational therapist assistants. The bill amends existing definitions in R.S. 40:1231.1(A)(10) and 1237.1(A)(9)(a)(ii) to incorporate these two professions into the definitions of "health care provider" and "state health care provider," respectively. This change acknowledges the role of these assistants in providing health care services and ensures they are covered under the same malpractice protections as other health care professionals.

The proposed amendments retain the current definitions while adding the new categories of providers. By doing so, the bill aims to enhance the legal framework surrounding medical malpractice, ensuring that physical therapist assistants and occupational therapist assistants are recognized and protected under the law, similar to their supervising professionals. This legislative change reflects a growing recognition of the importance of these roles in the healthcare system.

Statutes affected:
HB197 Original: 40:1(A)(10), 40:1(A)(9)