WORKERS COMPENSATION: Provides relative to requests for authorizations for prescription medications

HLS 26RS-2585 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1047
BY REPRESENTATIVE MENA
WORKERS COMPENSATION: Provides relative to requests for authorizations for
prescription medications
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 23:1203.1(J)(1), relative to workers' compensation; to provide
3 for requests for authorizations; to provide for applicability to requests for
4 authorizations for prescription drugs; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 23:1203.1(J)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 §1203.1. Definitions; medical treatment schedule; medical advisory council
8 * * *
9 J.(1) After a medical provider has submitted to the payor the request for
10 authorization and the information required by the Louisiana Administrative Code,
11 Title 40, Chapter 27, the payor shall notify the medical provider of their action on
12 the request within five business days of receipt of the request. If any dispute arises
13 after January 1, 2011, as to whether the recommended care, services, or treatment is
14 in accordance with the medical treatment schedule, or whether a variance from the
15 medical treatment schedule is reasonably required as contemplated in Subsection I
16 of this Section, any aggrieved party shall file, within fifteen calendar days, an appeal
17 with the office of workers' compensation administration medical director or associate
18 medical director on a form promulgated by the assistant secretary. The medical
19 director or associate medical director shall render a decision as soon as is practicable,
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-2585 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1047
1 but in no event, not more than thirty calendar days from the date of filing. This
2 Subsection shall not apply to requests for authorizations for prescription drugs.
3 * * *
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 1047 Original 2026 Regular Session Mena
Abstract: Prohibits request for authorizations for prescription drugs in workers'
compensation cases.
Present law requires the payor, after a medical provider has submitted to the payor the
request for authorization and other required information, to notify the medical provider of
the payor's action on the request for authorization. Present law further requires notice to be
given within five business days of receipt of the request.
Present law allows any aggrieved party to file an appeal with the office of workers'
compensation administration's medical director or associate medical director, if any dispute
arises after the date specified in present law (R.S. 23:1203.1(J)(1)), as to whether the
recommended care, services, or treatment is in accordance with the medical treatment
schedule or whether a variance from the medical treatment schedule is reasonably required.
Present law provides that the appeal must be filed within 15 calendar days.
Present law requires the medical director or associate medical director to render a decision
as soon as practicable; however, no later than 30 calendar days from the date of filing.
Proposed law provides that present law (R.S. 23:1203.1(J)) shall not apply to requests for
authorizations for prescription drugs and otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 23:1203.1(J)(1))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.