Senate Bill No. 129, introduced by Senator Pressly, mandates that health insurers in Louisiana provide coverage for proton therapy treatment for cancer patients. The bill enacts a new section, R.S. 22:1060.18, which stipulates that no health insurance issuer can deny coverage for proton therapy if it is recommended by nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, or ongoing monitoring of cancer. Additionally, insurers cannot require patients to undergo imaging tests that are not recommended by these guidelines as a condition for receiving proton therapy.

The provisions of this bill will apply to any new health coverage plans issued on or after January 1, 2026, and existing plans must conform to these requirements by their renewal date, but no later than January 1, 2026. The coverage may be subject to standard annual deductibles, coinsurance, and copayment provisions. However, the bill specifies that it does not apply to plans providing coverage for excepted benefits, limited health benefit insurance plans, or short-term policies with terms of less than twelve months. The effective date for the bill is August 1, 2025.