[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6232125,"mediaKeyId","3426683-f975915964424732a5a6ee9bdeef0416","parentId",3426683,"title","Senate committee advances bill requiring private insurers to cover voluntary home visits for newborns","audioSeconds",1854,"startMs",2186000,"endMs",332000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426683-f975915964424732a5a6ee9bdeef0416&start=2186&end=332","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426683-f975915964424732a5a6ee9bdeef0416/thumbnail_2186000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6232125/Louisiana/Senate-committee-advances-bill-requiring-private-insurers-to-cover-voluntary-home-visits-for-newborns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232125-13dcb18ac50e4054a318e1194afbd82d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172191&Signature=lFbGUguQmlQ9Lo-pTL0DjxZThYz1qm46j~dMxXfCnGgBEhro-matSXShQ8K8sW~dbF6PLuD2qO1rrxBZUkLsSQFQhMYTN7-GbOJ2zVjjz9MTHYvpSU6mCAKe9N~rBr-JiSQnHimKCTB-CHEj6rfAMVcaLM1teYBQ98HwS6Z-AtsAIP7N-eCis2hQEl7AgIW4s-DxpE4lGYNsO4zqTgyAPEh9y13nWILI5wOggzQbGylK3rmt9N9AuvFOjmKRmvc5wNKtrIbzBONYFtzAlE0N0tOkJc184FYUmQe45TT5MXunULbSbUQXGKLCsxw2RqQdPkd2GDPZfCkEY2AqC~UaFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 382, authored in the House by Representative Baham, was reported favorably by the Senate Insurance Committee on May 21 after brief testimony and an adopted technical amendment.

Representative Baham told the committee the bill \"requires insurance coverage of home visiting services for newborns and young children,\" and framed the change as part of efforts to lower Louisiana's maternal and infant mortality rates. \"One of the big issues we have in Louisiana ... is we have a very high maternal mortality rate,\" Baham said, adding that the program would allow nurses or social workers to visit new mothers to perform health checks.

Susan East Nelson of the Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families described the state’s voluntary home visiting system and said private‑insurance coverage would help build a market for home visiting programs. \"This is a relatively low cost intervention that we can do early on with moms and babies that has tremendous return on the investment on the back end,\" she said. Nelson noted about 60 percent of births in Louisiana are covered by Medicaid and that private coverage would expand access for families with private insurance.

The committee adopted a technical amendment (amendment set 2032) without opposition. Senator DuPlessis indicated she would \"move favorable at the proper time,\" and Senator Plessis moved to report the bill with amendments. With no opposition voiced, the committee \"reported favorably\" on House Bill 382.

Discussion vs. action: Committee members asked clarifying questions during the presentation but took no additional policy amendments beyond the technical change. The formal actions were adoption of the technical amendment and a committee vote to report the bill favorably to the full Senate.

Next steps: The bill proceeds from the committee to the Senate for further consideration.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Insurance May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 382, authored by Representative Baham, was reported favorably by the Senate Insurance Committee on May 21 after committee members adopted a technical amendment and proponents said private insurers would be required to cover voluntary home‑visiting services for newborns and young children.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature LA, Louisiana","taxId",78558,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6232112,"Senate delays PBM reform bill after pharmacists present appeals, transparency concerns",0,3093000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426683-f975915964424732a5a6ee9bdeef0416&start=3093&end=3093","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426683-f975915964424732a5a6ee9bdeef0416/thumbnail_3093000.jpg","/articles/6232112/Louisiana/Senate-delays-PBM-reform-bill-after-pharmacists-present-appeals-transparency-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232112-0a30d6d40662a0c1508ba0d9db5db379/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172191&Signature=FGL7UDE3Edl7KWATTMbzYVN7pap6daQYuQVz0DVGOFbmYncBK9jcMO5Nt2BHp6TxqcLfIYsUJAWTvA5EEX7dm8lLQxNyMZWP5MXIwi3TU9OjHQRLNLV1ajWcjM9InwqkwconipZh3VTTfmoJb76OU9Yj8I9wsLPCnT6IovxUWWFQHljBOKdMOOvLke9ekIlC0~KUii2f01r6NNxtDA0fLkpyS3XULDhlsTySShf20qfrZsGlJpizZh5IFUhleVWWUVtzhjRnPHPBgdQqcxYUydW3ED47CYcgHxd57d5NeNEKkQJ3x6FELRKqgDQ9-KDTzGg3I~dAbYUvRw3PNLEMBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 173, from Senator Jackson Andrews, which would set requirements for reimbursement rates paid by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), was voluntarily deferred by the Senate Insurance Committee on May 21 after extended testimony from independent pharmacists and Department of Insurance staff and a commitment by PBM representatives to continue negotiations.

Senator Jackson Andrews opened the item saying the bill \"offers relief for our independent pharmacists\" and addresses a dispensing fee and an appeals process when pharmacies are paid below cost. Independent pharmacists described persistent operational pressure from PBM reimbursement practices.

Dana Antoon of Chanel Drugs said pharmacy service administrative organizations (PSAOs) have \"zero negotiating power\" in many cases and described an appeals process she said can require 10–15 minutes per prescription and occur for roughly 30 prescriptions per day per store. \"If the PBM denies that appeal, I then have to go and file a complaint with the Louisiana Department of Insurance,\" she said, and added that even if an appeal is approved the payment can revert to the prior lower rate the next month, forcing repeated appeals.

Pamela Layton of Layton Family Pharmacy said pharmacies are often \"upside down\" when reimbursements for certain brand drugs are paid below acquisition cost and urged lawmakers to consider workforce and rural access implications. Don Caffrey of the Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association described the bill's two principal parts: a dispensing‑fee provision and an appeals/transparency mechanism modeled on a maximum allowable cost (MAC) approach, which would require PBMs to notify similarly situated pharmacies when an appeal results in an updated reimbursement.

Frank Opelka of the Department of Insurance said the agency has been working on rules to smooth implementation and that the broader challenge includes market segmentation: some of the practices pharmacists complain about occur in ERISA/self‑funded and government benefit markets that state law does not directly regulate. Opelka and committee actuaries noted similar reforms in other states have led to premium impacts in the regulated market; the committee's fiscal note reflected an actuarial estimate discussed in the hearing.

Senators asked questions about wholesalers, pharmacy ownership of wholesalers, PSAO consolidation, and whether the bill's dispensing‑fee language was premature without an Office of Group Benefits (OGB) report required by prior law. Don Caffrey and other witnesses said they were willing to work on the dispensing‑fee language and highlighted the appeals/transparency provision (cited in the bill as similar to RS 22:1865 language) as a priority for independent pharmacies.

At the author’s request, and after the sponsor and PBM representatives committed to further negotiation, the committee voluntarily deferred Senate Bill 173 to allow continued discussion and potential agreement before the bill is taken up again.

","Senate Bill 173, aimed at regulating pharmacy benefit manager reimbursements and establishing appeals and dispensing‑fee provisions, was voluntarily deferred after extended testimony from independent pharmacists about appeals workload and transparency; the author agreed to continue negotiations with PBM representatives and the Department of Insur",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6232114,"Committee clears bill easing formation of domestic captive insurers",252,2014000,2266000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426683-f975915964424732a5a6ee9bdeef0416&start=2014&end=2266","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426683-f975915964424732a5a6ee9bdeef0416/thumbnail_2014000.jpg","/articles/6232114/Louisiana/Committee-clears-bill-easing-formation-of-domestic-captive-insurers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232114-f34ec065a1da97997f8b31cced1cd406/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172191&Signature=ThPjgtNhi4jE8-Hd6vklGNZX0VvwV~ERkm1ZPQlz3z09zmOc3lBeDvO1v9xEatcnJSh5FwZCDQfWnUoPJFX~oZYZvXAohPhYLCIjOmtlIVSwAS-2bBoWdz0e8lPBA4s7EMcvxaFf~7fVtraQjqRhLeP0-c8FHj2p6zK5qIcUFsJt0jbbUfPEuPp6fSr0kQ9xc0Q0ORe9KXF-AYnwOUVU74nbHR-vze4YvuYM9XdDJLMs2x63IJ0Gdn6UqK5v8lTGNm7aByz2G4XzL38p4QyjgOZRSx9TGTcDVOKR3XBLfm4gBFWeD25t1MehVZujLEh6pGjywcuR4QftVCy0HcDAMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 635, sponsored in the House by Representative Bamberg, was reported favorably by the Senate Insurance Committee on May 21 after the author described the measure as easing restrictions on the formation and operation of domestic captive insurers.

Representative Bamberg said the bill \"regulates the formation [and] operation of domestic captive insurers in Louisiana\" and described the measure as a step to address insurance affordability and availability. He said the legislation was modeled on a program in Vermont. \"Allowing captives to be created a little easier in the State of Louisiana\" was presented as a tool to improve availability of coverage for some classes of insureds.

Committee members registered no objections during the brief presentation. Several parties filed cards in support and offered to provide information if requested, including Commissioner Tim Temple and a Department of Insurance representative. Senator Myers moved to report House Bill 635 favorably; the committee reported the bill without recorded opposition.

Discussion vs. action: The hearing involved a brief presentation by the bill author and the committee's formal vote to report the bill favorably. No floor amendments were adopted in committee.

Next steps: The bill proceeds to the full Senate for further consideration; sponsor and stakeholders indicated readiness to provide additional information to the committee if requested.

","The Senate Insurance Committee reported House Bill 635 favorably after the sponsor said the measure would make it easier to form and operate domestic captive insurers in Louisiana, modeled on a Vermont program proponents described as successful.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6232120,"Committee narrows surplus‑lines bill after debate over arbitration and residential carve‑out",1720,285000,2005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426683-f975915964424732a5a6ee9bdeef0416&start=285&end=2005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426683-f975915964424732a5a6ee9bdeef0416/thumbnail_285000.jpg","/articles/6232120/Louisiana/Committee-narrows-surpluslines-bill-after-debate-over-arbitration-and-residential-carveout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232120-7730079dd4ec9db41bcfb0547babb238/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172191&Signature=R99Gg-qTwBollT5Tc3FLA5PYV3I1eRvljOwghCk~iVfi3-4BSNyMP3Lp~bLNB9I02VaB4JTV2pj6qiq8xjdKw3NhGTkQ2E8gxiJKiGAxPpsdzh5vdaO86Qy9ukQ4jH8zc7F7Ozte8TXxccA5Ypq-x4LnWdVzZU6Sf7smtGOxj0I2-RsIbTk3H~kTp0oDM4obfk3KXPGKRytxLvnUomp~nGTSQW7Po~V5zy5ixiiZsdl4oHkcmeU3pFZ9eg1Fpw~yE3WwxWV8EofbJOY6KeOLoSHAeshT7oUk~2a9TVFM4QxgyOD0q-KBsVtaEhJ0r1fulH~gVSqE0Mv0xbWW2tHmCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 561, sponsored in the House by Representative Furman, was reported with amendments after extended committee discussion about surplus‑lines insurance, arbitration clauses and the potential effect on residential policyholders.

Representative Furman told the Senate Insurance Committee the bill \"reaffirms that surplus lines carriers have freedom of rate and form, including the ability to negotiate private contracts, and include arbitration clauses in their policies.\" He said the bill excludes public bodies such as parish or municipal entities and that the goal was to \"ensure a healthy and viable surplus lines market.\"

Tom Clark, speaking \"on behalf of Velocity, underwriters and insurers,\" told senators surplus lines are often used to insure risks that admitted carriers will not take and said recent court developments had \"muddied the waters\" for arbitration clauses. \"We're trying to make sure that these companies can continue to do business in this state,\" he said, arguing arbitration clauses are an element of those negotiated contracts.

Adam Patrick of the Department of Insurance told the committee the bill does not explicitly limit coverage to commercial risks and that, prior to the Supreme Court decision, surplus lines carriers had long enjoyed rate and form freedom. Patrick said the issue raised concerns about residential customers and suggested bolstering notice language to inform insured parties that a surplus lines policy \"may contain an arbitration clause which could ... be a waiver of certain very important rights.\" Several senators expressed concern about consumers being required to arbitrate disputes out of state. Senator DuPlessis, among others, pressed for a residential carve‑out to protect homeowners and small consumers who lack bargaining power.

Senator Plessis offered an amendment (amendment set 2069) that added language to limit the bill's arbitration‑related provisions to commercial insureds; the committee adopted the amendment without recorded opposition. Several industry groups signaled support after the amendment, including the Home Builders Association and other trade groups; Luke Williamson, a private homeowner, and Brian Katz of the Louisiana Association for Justice spoke in opposition before the residential carve‑out was adopted but indicated the amendment addressed their main concern.

After the amendment was adopted, Senator Plessis moved to report House Bill 561 with amendments. With no opposition voiced in committee, the bill was reported favorably with the commercial‑insured carve‑out in place.

Discussion vs. action: Much of the hearing consisted of questions about venue, bargaining power, and which classes of insureds would be affected. The committee recorded two formal actions: adoption of amendment set 2069 and a committee vote to report the amended bill favorably.

Next steps: The amended bill is reported to the Senate with an adopted amendment that narrows application to commercial insureds; sponsors and stakeholders said they will continue to negotiate language before floor consideration.

","House Bill 561, which would reaffirm surplus‑lines carriers' freedom of rate and form and permit negotiated arbitration clauses in private surplus‑lines contracts, was amended in committee to exempt ordinary residential consumers; supporters said the bill restores market certainty after a recent Supreme Court ruling, while opponents warned about","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee advances bill requiring private insurers to cover voluntary home visits for newborns

Senate delays PBM reform bill after pharmacists present appeals, transparency concerns

Committee clears bill easing formation of domestic captive insurers

Committee narrows surplus‑lines bill after debate over arbitration and residential carve‑out