House Bill No. by Representative Miller seeks to modify the regulatory authority of the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) concerning hospital classifications and standards. The bill amends R.S. 40:2109(B)(6) to remove the existing exemption that allows certain rural hospitals to avoid the requirement of maintaining in-house obstetric anesthesia personnel on a twenty-four-hour basis. This change means that rural hospitals will now be required to have qualified personnel available at all times to qualify for Medicaid reimbursement for Level III, neonatal, or obstetric medical services.

The proposed law repeals the current prohibition against requiring rural hospitals to have a healthcare professional with credentials to administer obstetric anesthesia on-call 24/7. This amendment aims to ensure that all hospitals, regardless of their location, adhere to uniform standards for patient care and safety. The bill will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the designated time for gubernatorial action if not signed.