House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to establish the crime of fraudulent patient referrals, commonly referred to as "body brokering," by enacting R.S. 14:70.5.1. The bill prohibits individuals from knowingly or intentionally soliciting, offering, paying, or receiving any form of compensation, including bribes or kickbacks, for referring patients to various health care facilities, such as residential substance abuse and mental health facilities. It also criminalizes assisting or conspiring with others to engage in such activities. The bill outlines specific exceptions to these prohibitions and provides definitions for key terms, including "health care facility," "health care provider," and "residential substance abuse facility."

The proposed legislation stipulates penalties for violations, which may include imprisonment for up to five years, fines of up to $50,000, or both. Additional penalties may involve the suspension or revocation of professional licenses, civil fines of up to $25,000, and other applicable fines assessed by the Louisiana Department of Health. Furthermore, individuals convicted under this law will be required to make full restitution to victims who have incurred financial losses due to the offense.