SLS 25RS-334 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 129
BY SENATOR PRESSLY
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
INSURERS. Requires health insurers to cover proton therapy for cancer patients. (8/1/25)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 22:1060.18, relative to cancer treatment; to require health insurers to provide
3 coverage for proton therapy treatment for cancer patients; and to provide for related
4 matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 22:1060.18 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง1060.18. Required coverage for proton therapy treatment for cancer
8 A. No health insurance issuer shall deny coverage of proton therapy or
9 proton beam therapy for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment, appropriate
10 management, restaging, or ongoing monitoring of an individual's disease or
11 condition if the therapy is being requested for the diagnosis, treatment, or
12 ongoing surveillance of cancer is recommended by nationally recognized clinical
13 practice guidelines.
14 B. No health coverage plan that is renewed, delivered, or issued for
15 delivery in this state shall require an insured to undergo any imaging test for
16 the purpose of diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management, restaging, or
17 ongoing monitoring of an insured's disease or condition of cancer that is not
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 129
SLS 25RS-334 ORIGINAL
1 recommended by nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines, as a
2 condition precedent to receiving proton therapy or proton beam therapy when
3 the proton therapy or proton beam therapy is recommended by the guidelines
4 provided for in this Subpart.
5 C. The coverage provided in this Section may be subject to annual
6 deductibles, coinsurance, and copayment provisions as are consistent with those
7 established under the health coverage plan.
8 D. The provisions of this Section do not apply to a plan providing
9 coverage for excepted benefits as described in R.S. 22:1061, limited health
10 benefit insurance plans, and short-term policies that have a term of less than
11 twelve months.
12 Section 2. The provisions of this Act shall apply to any new policy, contract,
13 program, or health coverage plan issued on or after January 1, 2026. Any policy, contract,
14 or health coverage plan in effect prior to January 1, 2026, shall convert to conform to the
15 provisions of this Act on or before the renewal date, but no later than January 1, 2026.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.
The keyword, summary, 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)]
DIGEST
SB 129 Original 2025 Regular Session Pressly
Present law requires health insurance plans to provide coverage for certain treatments for
cancer.
Proposed law retains present law, and adds proton therapy treatment for cancer to the list of
treatments health insurance plans must cover.
Proposed law applies to any new policy, contract, program, or health coverage plan issued
on or after January 1, 2026. Any policy, contract, or health coverage plan in effect prior to
January 1, 2026, shall convert to conform to the provisions of proposed law on or before the
renewal date, but no later than January 1, 2026.
Effective August 1, 2025.
(Adds R.S. 22:1060.18)
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.