HLS 24RS-2113 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 939
BY REPRESENTATIVE FISHER
HEALTH/SICKLE CELL ANEM: Provides relative to healthcare services provided to
patients with sickle cell disease
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 40:1125.51, relative to coverage for patients diagnosed with sickle cell
3 disease; to provide coverage for digital monitoring of vitals of patients diagnosed
4 with sickle cell disease; to provide at-home care for patients diagnosed with sickle
5 cell disease; to provide for Medicaid coverage; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 40:1125.51 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง1125.51. Digital monitoring and at-home care
9 A. The Louisiana Department of Health shall make available to persons
10 diagnosed with sickle cell disease and who are eligible for Medicaid benefits under
11 Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq., coverage benefits for
12 digital monitoring of vital signs and twenty-four-hour at-home care.
13 B. Medicaid coverage shall fund all of the following services:
14 (1)(a) Digital monitoring of vital signs.
15 (b) A healthcare professional shall use digital vital signs to determine if a
16 patient with sickle cell disease is experiencing a pain crisis. The healthcare
17 professional may recommend the patient seek healthcare service including but not
18 limited to at-home care.
19 (2)(a) Twenty-four hour at-home care.
20 (b) The patient shall be eligible to receive medical treatment at his home.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-2113 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 939
1 (c) Services may include hydration and oxygenation at the direction of a
2 healthcare professional.
3 (d) Healthcare professionals may assess a patient during an at-home visit and
4 assist in coordinating follow-up care.
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 939 Original 2024 Regular Session Fisher
Abstract: Requires the La. Dept. of Health to provide Medicaid coverage for at-home care
and digital monitoring of vitals for patients diagnosed with sickle cell disease.
Proposed law mandates Medicaid coverage for digital monitoring of vital signs and at-home
health care for individuals diagnosed with sickle cell disease.
Proposed law states that the digital monitoring of vital signs shall be covered by Medicaid
and recorded to allow healthcare professionals to determine if a patient is experiencing a
pain crisis.
Proposed law states that at-home health care, including hydration and oxygenation, shall be
covered by Medicaid.
Proposed law further states that healthcare professionals may assess patients and recommend
follow-up care.
(Adds R.S. 40:1125.51)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.