The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.
DIGEST
SB 88 Engrossed 2017 Regular Session Long
Proposed law creates rural health clinic look-alike entities, a new Medicaid provider type
designation, in any parish with a population greater than thirty-nine thousand and less than forty-one
thousand, according to the latest federal decennial census. Proposed law establishes that a rural
health clinic look-alike may be physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician
assistants that do not meet the federal criteria of rural health clinic, but are within two miles of a
location that would satisfy the criteria. Proposed law mandates Medicaid reimbursement for rural
health clinic look-alike providers at the rate established for rural health clinics if reimbursement is
implemented through federal matching funds.
Proposed law provides that the Louisiana Department of Health shall submit a written report to the
Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget no later than October 1, 2017, with a status update on
implementation of proposed law.
Effective August 1, 2017.
(Adds R.S. 46:460.72)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill
1. Limits bill applicability to any parish with a population greater than thirty-nine
thousand and less than forty-one thousand, according to the latest federal decennial
census.
2. Changes physical location from less than three miles to less than two miles from a
location where the health care provider would have otherwise satisfied the
requirements of a rural health clinic.
3. Identifies physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician's assistants
as provider types eligible for enhanced Medicaid reimbursement as a rural health
clinic look-alike.
4. Clarifies that legislative intent is to pay these providers a certain minimum Medicaid
reimbursement rate if it can be implemented with federal Medicaid matching funds. 5. Requires the Louisiana Department of Health to submit a report by October 1, 2017,
regarding status of implementation.