DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Norton HB No. 110
Abstract: Requires that La. Medicaid eligibility standards conform to those established by the
Affordable Care Act.
Proposed law requires the secretary of DHH to take such actions as are necessary to expand
Louisiana's Medicaid eligibility standards to conform to those established by the Affordable Care
Act (ACA) commencing on January 1, 2014. Provides that such actions by the secretary shall
include:
(1)On or before September 1, 2013, filing of the Medicaid state plan amendment necessary
to expand Medicaid eligibility in accordance with proposed law.
(2)On or before September 1, 2013, promulgating all rules and regulations as are necessary
to expand Medicaid eligibility in accordance with proposed law.
Proposed law declares that the purposes of the state in expanding Medicaid eligibility as
provided in proposed law are as follows:
(1)To maximize the number of Louisianians who are covered by some form of health
insurance.
(2)To provide basic health coverage to the working poor of the state who are not offered
insurance through their employer and do not earn enough money to meet basic family
needs and pay for private health insurance.
(3)To protect the working poor and other financially vulnerable persons from being forced to
obtain private insurance or be penalized financially, as provided in the ACA, for not
maintaining health coverage.
(4)To assure health care providers who serve low- to moderate-income persons of some
amount of compensation for the care they provide.
(5)To avert the economic and human costs of crises in both access to health care and health
services financing which are likely to result from not participating in an expansion of a
federal program while other major programs which finance medical care for the uninsured
and the indigent are being drastically reduced. Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 46:979.1-979.4)