Louisiana legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Louisiana SB404: HEALTH CARE: Provides relative to eye care providers. (gov sig) (EN INCREASE SG EX See Note)
Status: Signed into law, May 22, 2026
What the bill says
An act To amend and reenact R.S. 22:997 and to enact Part XIII of Chapter 5 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 22:1809 through 1809.15, relative to eye care providers; to provide for coverage of visual services; to provide for vision benefit managers and vision benefit plans; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for covered and noncovered services and materials; to provide for credentialing and contracting requirements; to provide for unfair trade practices; to provide for enforcement…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S. 22:997 and to enact Part XIII of Chapter 5 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 22:1809 through 1809.15, relative to eye care providers; to provide for coverage of visual services; to provide for vision benefit managers and vision benefit plans; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for covered and noncovered services and materials; to provide for credentialing and contracting requirements; to provide for unfair trade practices; to provide for enforcement; to provide for applicability; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters. Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: Section 1. R.S. 22:997 is hereby amended and reenacted and Part XIII of Chapter of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 22:1809 through 1809.15, is hereby enacted to read as follows: §997. Visual services, choice of practitioners A. Whenever any medical eye care or vision care benefits are provided by or available through a health benefit plan, health maintenance organization, preferred Page 1 of Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SLS 26RS-490 ORIGINAL SB NO. provider organization, managed care organization, accountable care organization, vision benefit plan, …