The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Horne.
DIGEST
Morrish (SB569)
Present law requires the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) to implement a moratorium
on additional beds for nursing facilities. Further prohibits DHH from approving any additional
nursing facilities or additional beds in nursing facilities through facility need review. The
prohibition applies only to applications for new beds not approved prior to July 1, 1996, and shall
remain in effect until July 1, 2016. The prohibition does not apply to the replacement of existing
facilities provided there is no increase in existing nursing home beds at the replacement facility.
Proposed law retains present law and further excludes from the prohibition on additional beds for
nursing facilities when all the following conditions exist:
(1)The increase in the existing nursing home beds is for a newly constructed nursing home
facility in a parish with a population between 61,000 and 65,000 according to the latest
federal decennial census.
(2)The newly constructed nursing home has replaced a facility structurally older than 25
years.
(3)The increase in beds brings the total approved beds to no more than 80.
(4)The new beds are not part of the Medicaid or Medicare programs.
Effective August 1, 2014.
(Amends R.S. 40:2116(D)(2))