House Bill No. 456, introduced by Representative Turner, amends the Local Healthcare Provider Participation Program in Louisiana. The bill allows parishes with fewer than two hospitals to collaborate with contiguous parishes to form a multi-parish funding district, which will be recognized as a new governmental entity. The governing bodies of these districts will consist of representatives appointed by each participating parish, and they will have the authority to delegate operational responsibilities among the parishes. Additionally, the bill stipulates that if a parish excludes certain providers, it must work with the relevant department to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

The bill also revises the financial structure of local hospital assessment payments. It establishes that the total revenue from these payments, including administrative costs, shall not exceed $150,000, replacing the previous cap of five percent of total revenue or $20,000. Furthermore, the responsibility for collecting these payments shifts from the sheriff to the parish unless an appropriate collection entity is engaged, allowing the sheriff to charge reasonable fees if they are involved in the collection process. The bill is set to take effect upon the governor's signature or after the designated period for gubernatorial action.

Statutes affected:
HB456 Original: 40:5(D)(3), 40:8(D)
HB456 Engrossed: 40:5(D)(3), 40:8(B)
HB456 Reengrossed: 40:5(D)(3), 40:8(B)