Senate Bill No. by Senator Boudreaux aims to establish Medicaid coverage for certain FDA-approved weight loss medications for eligible recipients. The bill mandates that the Louisiana Department of Health require Medicaid managed care organizations to provide coverage for these medications prescribed by licensed healthcare providers to individuals over the age of 18 who meet specific criteria, such as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher with associated comorbidities, or a BMI of 35 or greater. Coverage will be subject to prior authorization, limited to verifying patient eligibility, and initial authorization will not exceed six months, with continued coverage contingent upon documented clinical improvements.

Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of step therapy for these weight loss medications and ensures that the Louisiana Department of Health or Medicaid managed care organizations cannot impose additional eligibility restrictions beyond those specified in the bill. The effective date for this legislation is set for January 1, 2027.