House Bill No. 199 proposes to extend the existing moratorium on nursing facilities and additional beds for nursing facilities in Louisiana from July 1, 2027, to July 1, 2031. The bill amends R.S. 40:2116.1(B)(1) to reflect this new termination date. Additionally, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is tasked with collecting and analyzing data to assess the necessity of the moratorium. This data collection will include information on avoidable skilled nursing days in hospitals and the total occupancy rates in nursing facilities, along with reasons for any refusals to admit eligible patients.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that LDH establish a system to track the required information by November 30, 2026, and begin collecting this data starting January 1, 2027. LDH is also required to submit monthly reports to the House and Senate committees on health and welfare, starting February 15, 2027. These provisions aim to ensure that the moratorium is informed by current data and trends in nursing facility usage and patient care needs.

Statutes affected:
HB199 Original: 40:1(B)(1)
HB199 Engrossed: 40:1(B)(1)
HB199 Reengrossed: 40:1(B)(1)