HLS 25RS-985 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 423
BY REPRESENTATIVE LACOMBE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
HEALTH CARE/PROVIDERS: Provides relative to healthcare providers displaying
evidence of proper licensure in advertising
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 37:22 and 1743.1(A) and (B) and R.S. 51:413(B), relative to
3 healthcare providers; to require healthcare providers to display evidence of proper
4 licensure in person or in advertisements; to provide for sanctions for
5 misrepresentation of licensure by a healthcare provider; to provide for enforceability;
6 to make technical corrections; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 37:22 and 1743.1(A) and (B) are hereby amended and reenacted to
9read as follows:
10 §22. Identification of health care healthcare providers
11 A. It is the intent of the legislature in enacting this Section to promote,
12 preserve, and protect the public health, safety, and welfare by insuring ensuring the
13 availability of certain minimum information concerning the licensure of individuals
14 who provide health care healthcare services to consumers in this state. Therefore,
15 nothing shall prohibit a licensed health care healthcare provider from displaying shall
16 display on his person, as well as in any advertisements in print or electronic or social
17 media, his professional credentials or identification utilizing professional licensure
18 terms or terminology as provided for within the laws, rules, or regulations which
19 govern the licensure of such health care healthcare providers.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-985 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 423
1 B. As used in this Section, "healthcare provider" means any healthcare
2 provider as defined in R.S. 40:1231.1.
3 * * *
4 §1743.1. Use of the title "Doctor" or "Dr." by certain healthcare providers
5 A. No healthcare provider, while providing direct patient care, shall present
6 himself, whether orally or in writing, to a patient using the title of "Doctor" or the
7 abbreviation of "Dr." as a prefix to his name without using a suffix to denote either
8 the type of professional license held by the healthcare provider, or the degree, or both
9 to which he is entitled by reason of his diploma of graduation from a school or other
10 entity, professional or otherwise.
11 B. Any healthcare provider who uses the title of "Doctor" or the abbreviation
12 of "Dr." in any manner inconsistent with the provisions of this Section may be
13 sanctioned in accordance with rules promulgated by the licensing board for that
14 provider's profession or occupation or by the Louisiana Department of Health.
15 * * *
16 Section 2. R.S. 51:413(B) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
17 §413. Advertising using the term "Doctor" or "Dr."
18 * * *
19 B. Any violation of this Section shall be enforceable under in accordance
20 with the provisions and subject to the penalties of the Unfair Trade Practices and
21 Consumer Protection Law and any rules promulgated by the licensing board for the
22 provider's profession or occupation or by the Louisiana Department of Health.
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 423 Original 2025 Regular Session LaCombe
Abstract: Requires a licensed healthcare provider to display evidence of proper licensure
on his person or in advertisements.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-985 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 423
Present law provides that the legislative intent behind present law is to promote, preserve,
and protect public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring proper licensure of healthcare
providers who provide healthcare services in this state.
Proposed law makes technical corrections and otherwise retains present law.
Present law requires a licensed healthcare provider to display on his person his professional
credentials or identification.
Proposed law extends this requirement by requiring healthcare providers to also display
proper licensure in any advertisement, whether in print or on electronic, or on social media.
Proposed law also makes technical corrections.
Present law prohibits a healthcare provider, who is providing direct patient care, from
presenting himself as a "Doctor" or "Dr." without specifying what type of professional
license he holds or the degree he has.
Proposed law clarifies that the healthcare provider can specify what type of doctorate he
possesses by using his professional license, degree, or both. Proposed law otherwise retains
present law.
Present law provides that any violation of present law (R.S. 51:413) shall be enforceable and
subject to the penalties of applicable state law governing unfair trade practices and consumer
protection.
Proposed law adds that any violation of present law shall also be enforceable under any rules
promulgated by the licensing board for the provider's profession or occupation or by the La.
Dept. of Health. Proposed law otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S.37:22 and 1743.1(A) and (B) and R.S. 51:413(B))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.