Committee advances bill expanding remote patient monitoring eligibility to pregnant women and certain infants

Sen. Brock Myers’ Senate Bill 70, aimed at expanding eligibility for remote patient monitoring services, was reported favorably by the House Committee of Health and Welfare on May 20.

Myers told the committee the bill would change current eligibility rules so that a provider’s recommendation plus one qualifying condition — such as being a pregnant or postpartum woman, or an infant discharged after neonatal intensive care — would make a patient eligible for remote monitoring. He said the revision “simplifies and broadens eligibility” and emphasized the sponsor was not seeking new appropriations for the change.

Myers described pilot programs underway in Louisiana, including projects for infants with tracheotomies that use technology to monitor patients and may reduce emergency events. He said the intent is to bring lower-cost, technology-enabled care when appropriate and to avoid unnecessary visits by replacing some in-person monitoring with devices when quality can be maintained.

Representative Rob Burrell moved to report the bill favorably; other committee members, including Representative Egan and Representative Chastain, expressed support. The chair asked for objections and, hearing none, reported SB 70 in favor.

Multiple health-system representatives filled green cards in support, including witnesses from Women’s Hospital, LCMC Health, Louisiana Public Health Institute, the Louisiana Hospital Association and Ochsner.

During questions, members asked whether the Department of Health is covering such devices now; the sponsor said adoption has been limited but that department leadership had expressed interest. The sponsor described technologies such as continuous glucose monitors as potential applications if funding and eligibility criteria align.