House Bill No. by Representative Bayham enacts R.S. 22:1059.6, which mandates health insurance coverage for home visiting services for families with newborns or expecting newborns. The bill outlines that these services, provided by trained professionals, can begin before the twenty-eighth week of pregnancy and continue up to five years after childbirth. It emphasizes the importance of such services in improving maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly in Louisiana, which has high maternal and infant mortality rates. The legislation also recognizes the benefits of home visiting programs in reducing emergency department visits and public assistance reliance.

The bill specifies that health coverage plans must include at least one home visit during a newborn's first three months and allows for up to five visits until the child is three years old. Coverage may be subject to deductibles and copayments, with a minimum limit of $1,500 per pregnancy. Additionally, it provides flexibility for home visiting programs to operate independently of insurance reimbursement while still adhering to evidence-based models. The provisions of this Act will apply to new policies issued on or after January 1, 2027, with existing policies required to conform by January 1, 2028.