Senate Bill No. 148, introduced by Senator McMath, aims to establish Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health services, specifically for partial hospitalization programs provided to adult and geriatric patients at licensed inpatient psychiatric hospitals. The bill mandates that the Louisiana Department of Health reimburse Medicaid providers for these services, contingent upon approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The department is tasked with determining the appropriate reimbursement rates, which will be based on specific appropriations of funds allocated by the legislature each year.

The implementation of this bill is also subject to the legislature's appropriation of funds for this purpose, and it is set to take effect on July 1, 2025. Notably, the bill includes amendments that remove a previous provision requiring reimbursement rates to be 100% of Medicare rates, instead allowing the Department of Health to set the rates as deemed appropriate. Additionally, the bill underwent technical corrections during the amendment process to ensure clarity and compliance with legislative standards.