HLS 22RS-960 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 624
BY REPRESENTATIVE PRESSLY
HEALTH CARE/PROVIDERS: Includes behavioral health services providers within the
definition of "healthcare provider" in the La. Telehealth Access Act
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1223.3(3), relative to healthcare services; to provide relative
3 to telehealth; to provide for healthcare personnel authorized to deliver telehealth
4 services; to include licensed behavioral health services providers within the set of
5 providers authorized to deliver such services; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 40:1223.3(3) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 ยง1223.3. Definitions
9 * * *
10 (3) "Healthcare provider" means a person, partnership, limited liability
11 partnership, limited liability company, corporation, facility, or institution licensed
12 or certified by this state to provide healthcare or professional services as a physician
13 assistant, hospital, nursing home, dentist, registered nurse, advanced practice
14 registered nurse, licensed dietitian or nutritionist, licensed practical nurse, certified
15 nurse assistant, offshore health service provider, ambulance service, licensed
16 midwife, pharmacist, speech-language pathologist, audiologist, optometrist,
17 podiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, occupational therapist, certified or
18 licensed athletic trainer, psychologist, medical psychologist, social worker, licensed
19 professional counselor, licensed behavioral health services provider, licensed
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 22RS-960 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 624
1 perfusionist, licensed respiratory therapist, licensed radiologic technologist, licensed
2 hearing aid dealer, or licensed clinical laboratory scientist.
3 * * *
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 624 Original 2022 Regular Session Pressly
Abstract: Incorporates behavioral health services providers into the set of healthcare
providers recognized in the La. Telehealth Access Act.
Present law known as the La. Telehealth Access Act (R.S. 40:1223.1 et seq.) defines
"healthcare provider", for purposes of present law relative to telehealth services, as a person,
partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, corporation, facility, or
institution licensed or certified by this state to provide healthcare or professional services as
any of the following:
(1)Physician assistant.
(2)Hospital.
(3)Nursing home.
(4)Dentist.
(5)Registered nurse.
(6)Advanced practice registered nurse.
(7)Licensed dietitian or nutritionist.
(8)Licensed practical nurse.
(9)Certified nurse assistant.
(10)Offshore health service provider.
(11)Ambulance service.
(12)Licensed midwife.
(13)Pharmacist.
(14)Speech-language pathologist.
(15)Audiologist.
(16)Optometrist.
(17)Podiatrist.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 22RS-960 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 624
(18)Chiropractor.
(19)Physical therapist.
(20)Occupational therapist.
(21)Certified or licensed athletic trainer.
(22)Psychologist.
(23)Medical psychologist.
(24)Social worker.
(25)Licensed professional counselor.
(26)Licensed perfusionist.
(27)Licensed respiratory therapist.
(28)Licensed radiologic technologist.
(29)Licensed hearing aid dealer.
(30)Licensed clinical laboratory scientist.
Proposed law adds behavioral health services providers licensed pursuant to present law to
the list of personnel classified as healthcare providers for purposes of the La. Telehealth
Access Act.
Present law, R.S. 37:1261 et seq., provides that telemedicine is a form of telehealth that may
be practiced exclusively by licensed physicians. Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 40:1223.3(3))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.