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)]
HB 159 Original 2017 Regular Session Dustin Miller
Abstract: Requires mental health rehabilitation providers meeting certain criteria to be licensed in
accordance with the Behavioral Health Services Provider Licensing Law.
Present law known as the Behavioral Health Services Provider Licensing Law, R.S. 40:2151 et seq.,
authorizes the La. Dept. of Health (LDH) to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of persons
receiving behavioral health services through licensure and regulation of behavioral health services
providers.
Present law defines "behavioral health services provider" as a facility, agency, institution, person,
society, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association, group, or other legal entity that
provides behavioral health services and presents itself to the public as a provider of behavioral health
services.
Proposed law retains above provisions of present law.
Present law exempts certain types of providers from the requirement for licensure as a behavioral
health services provider established in present law. Proposed law repeals present law exempting
healthcare providers meeting all of the following criteria from the requirement for licensure as a
behavioral health services provider:
(1)Was an accredited mental health rehabilitation provider enrolled in the La. Medicaid program
as of Feb. 28, 2012.
(2)Was enrolled with the statewide management organization for the La. Behavioral Health
Partnership as of March 1, 2012.
(3)Maintains continuous, uninterrupted accreditation through an approved accreditation
organization.
(4)Maintains continuous, uninterrupted enrollment with the statewide management organization
for the La. Behavioral Health Partnership.
Proposed law requires mental health rehabilitation providers meeting the criteria above to be licensed
as behavioral health services providers in accordance with present law and proposed law prior to
April 1, 2018, in order to provide behavioral health services. Proposed law requires each provider subject to proposed law to submit a completed application to
LDH for a behavioral health services provider license on or before Dec. 1, 2017.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 40:2154.1; Repeals R.S. 40:2154(A)(14))