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 449 Original 2020 Regular Session Echols
Abstract: Provides relative to behavioral health services delivered via telehealth and regulation of
such services by the La. Department of Health.
Present law, the Louisiana Telehealth Access Act (R.S. 40:1223.1 et seq.), defines "telehealth", in
pertinent part, as a mode of delivering healthcare services that utilizes information and
communication technologies to enable the diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care
management, and self-management of patients at a distance from healthcare providers. Proposed
law amends this definition to provide that healthcare services delivered via telehealth include
behavioral health services.
Present law, the Behavioral Health Services Provider Licensing Law (R.S. 40:2151 et seq.), requires
the La. Department of Health to promulgate rules and regulations for behavioral health services
providers. Proposed law provides that such rules and regulations address the delivery of behavioral
health services through telehealth.
(Amends R.S. 40:1223.3(6); Adds R.S. 40:2153(16) and 2156(B)(16))