Senate Bill No. 129, introduced by Senator Pressly, mandates that health insurers in Louisiana provide coverage for proton therapy treatment for cancer patients, as recommended by the American Society for Radiation Oncology practice guidelines. The bill enacts R.S. 22:1060.18, which stipulates that no health insurance issuer can deny coverage for proton therapy, although the coverage may still be subject to annual deductibles, coinsurance, and copayment provisions consistent with the health coverage plan. Additionally, the provisions of this bill do not apply to plans that offer excepted benefits, limited health benefit insurance plans, or short-term policies with terms of less than twelve months.

The bill will take effect on August 1, 2025, and will apply to any new policy, contract, program, or health coverage plan issued on or after January 1, 2026. Existing policies must conform to the new requirements by their renewal date, but no later than January 1, 2026. The bill retains existing law that requires coverage for certain cancer treatments while specifically adding proton therapy to that list. Amendments made during the Senate committee review clarified that the treatment must be recommended by the American Society for Radiation Oncology and removed a previous prohibition on requiring insured individuals to undergo imaging tests.