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 607 Original 2025 Regular Session Zeringue
Abstract: Prohibits a hospital service district and its affiliates from establishing, operating, or
locating any healthcare facility which is owned or controlled by a hospital service district or
its affiliate outside of the geographic limits of its district boundaries absent the consent of
the affected hospital service district.
Proposed law defines "affiliate", "healthcare facility", and "share relationship".
Proposed law prohibits a hospital service district and its affiliates from establishing, operating, or
locating any healthcare facility which is owned or controlled by a hospital service district or its
affiliate outside of the geographic limits of its district boundaries, except as otherwise provided for
in proposed law.
Proposed law provides that a private right of action to enforce the provisions of proposed law shall
exist in favor of a hospital service district when another hospital service district or its affiliate
establishes, operates, or locates a healthcare facility within the geographic limits of its district
boundaries without full compliance with the provisions proposed law.
Proposed law provides that the provisions of proposed law are not applicable when there is no
hospital service district in legal existence for the proposed location of the healthcare facility, or when
the two hospital service districts have entered into a written cooperative endeavor agreement
approved by the governing boards of both hospital service districts or their designees.
Proposed law provides that hospital service districts are authorized to consent to the establishment,
operation, and location of any healthcare facility which is owned, controlled or affiliated with a
hospital service district or an affiliate thereof which is located in another parish, or located in another
hospital service district within the same parish.
Proposed law provides that the notice required by proposed law shall include but not be limited to
all of the following:
(1)The location of the proposed healthcare facility.
(2)A detailed description of the ownership and control of the entity seeking approval for the
proposed location, and any affiliates.
(3)The specific primary, specialized, and ancillary healthcare services to be offered at the proposed healthcare facility.
(4)The number of licensed and non-licensed clinical care providers who will be assigned either
full-time or part-time to provide clinical services at the proposed healthcare facility, as well
as the number of administrative staff to be assigned to the proposed healthcare facility.
(5)The days of the week and hours of operation of the proposed healthcare facility.
(6)A notarized affidavit from the chief executive officer of the entity seeking approval for the
proposed healthcare facility attesting to whether such entity had previously sought to provide
such services jointly or otherwise on a cooperative basis with the hospital service district in
whose territory the proposed healthcare facility would be located, and the outcome of any
such discussions.
(7)A statement of which healthcare services require a higher level of care than those provided
at the proposed healthcare facility would be referred back to the home parish of the hospital
service district seeking approval for the healthcare facility.
(8)A statement of whether the proposed healthcare facility will accept Medicaid patients.
(9)A description of the method for calculating the financial cost of the proposed healthcare
facility.
(10)Whether the hospital service district or its affiliate that is seeking approval for the proposed
healthcare facility is a governmental or nonprofit organization and a detailed description of
information required by proposed law.
(11)The schedule for construction and operation.
(12)A description of any licenses, permits, zoning changes, and variances which the applicant
believes will be required to be obtained from any local or state governmental authority in
connection with the proposed healthcare facility.
(13)Any applications, permits, licenses or approvals filed, applied for or issued prior to the
determination of the governing board of the affected hospital service district.
Proposed law provides that an application seeking approval for any necessary building permits,
zoning variances, certificates of occupancy, and any other permits and licenses required by
applicable local or state laws shall not be filed with any local or state governmental authority for at
least 120 days after the delivery of the notice to the affected hospital service district.
Proposed law provides that the aforementioned application shall not be considered complete and
ready for approval, unless the application includes all of the following:
(1)A certified resolution of the governing board of the affected hospital service district granting its consent to the proposed healthcare facility.
(2)A resolution from the governing board of the hospital service district or it affiliate seeking
approval for such healthcare facility attesting that the proposed healthcare facility will be
operated in strict accordance with the content of the notice and acknowledging that a failure
to conduct the operations of the proposed healthcare facility in accordance with the
information in the notice shall result in withdrawal of the approvals, consents, and licenses
for the operation of the healthcare facility.
Proposed law prohibits a hospital service district or its affiliate from establishing, owning, or
operating a healthcare facility within the boundaries of another parish, or within the boundaries of
another hospital service district within its same parish, without the express written consent of the
hospital service district.
Proposed law provides that, prior to giving its approval and consent for a proposed healthcare facility
to be located in its geographic limits, the affected hospital service district may hold a public meeting.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 46:1069.2)