HLS 23RS-133 REENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 181
BY REPRESENTATIVE DEVILLIER
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
CORONERS: Provides relative to telemedicine access for coroners
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 28:53(B)(1), (G)(2) and (4), and (J)(3), relative to coroner
3 authority for telemedicine examinations; to clarify those persons who may execute
4 an emergency certificate via actual examination or telemedicine examination; and
5 to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 28:53(B)(1), (G)(2) and (4), and (J)(3) are hereby amended and
8reenacted to read as follows:
9 §53. Admission by emergency certificate; extension; payment for services rendered
10 * * *
11 G.
12 * * *
13 (2) Within seventy-two hours of admission, the person shall be
14 independently examined by the coroner or his deputy who shall execute an
15 emergency certificate, pursuant to Subsection B of this Section, which shall be a
16 necessary precondition to the person's continued confinement. Except as provided
17 in Paragraph (7) of this Subsection, if the actual examination by the psychiatrist,
18 psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, coroner who is a licensed physician, or
19 deputy coroner who is a licensed physician referred to in Paragraph (B)(1) of this
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-133 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 181
1 Section is conducted by telemedicine, the seventy-two-hour independent
2 examination by the coroner or his deputy shall be conducted in person.
3 * * *
4 (4) In making either the initial examination or the second examination, when
5 the coroner or his deputy examines the person and executes an emergency certificate
6 and a reexamination of the person and reexecution of a certificate is necessary for
7 any reason to ensure the validity of the certificate, both the first examiner and the
8 reexaminer shall be entitled to the fee for the service, unless they are one and the
9 same.
10 * * *
11 J.
12 * * *
13 (3) In any instance where the coroner or his deputy executes the first
14 emergency certificate, the second emergency certificate shall not be executed by the
15 coroner or his deputy, but the second emergency certificate may be executed by any
16 other physician including a physician at the treatment facility. However, if the first
17 examination by the coroner is conducted by a psychiatrist utilizing video
18 conferencing technology, the second examination shall be conducted in person.
19 * * *
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 181 Reengrossed 2023 Regular Session DeVillier
Abstract: Allows coroners and deputy coroners who are physicians to execute certain
examinations via telemedicine and establishes provisions for such persons.
Present law provides that if the actual examination by the psychiatrist is conducted via
telemedicine, the 72-hour independent examination by the coroner shall be conducted in
person.
Proposed law extends present law to allow psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners,
coroners who are licensed physicians, or deputy coroners who are licensed physicians to
conduct the actual examination via telemedicine. Proposed law otherwise retains present
law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-133 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 181
(Amends R.S. 28:53(B)(1), (G)(2) and (4), and (J)(3))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Restore present law relative to the actual examinations and reexaminations via
telemedicine.
2. Allow psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, coroners who are licensed
physicians, or deputy coroners who are licensed physicians to conduct the 72-
hour independent examination.
3. Make technical corrections.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.