HB288 • 2026

HEALTH CARE/RECORDS: Provides for the use of certain medical terminology in medical documentation (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

Abortion Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Chad Boyer
Last action: 2026-05-26
Official status: Sent to Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill allows for the inclusion of 'miscarriage' in parentheses after 'spontaneous abortion', but it does not mandate that both terms must be used together.

Medical Documentation Terminology

This bill allows medical professionals to include the term 'miscarriage' in parentheses after 'spontaneous abortion' when used in medical records and billing.

What This Bill Does

Entities regulated by Louisiana's health care laws may include the term 'miscarriage' in parentheses following the term 'spontaneous abortion' when it is utilized in medical documentation, such as medical records or medical billing.

Who It Names or Affects

Medical professionals and facilities that create or use medical records and billing statements.

Terms To Know

Spontaneous Abortion: A natural loss of a pregnancy before it can survive outside the womb.
Miscarriage: Another term for spontaneous abortion, often used in medical and public contexts.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if these terms are not included as required.
It is unclear how this change will affect patient understanding or medical billing processes.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

House Committee Amendment #2965 H&W Adopted

Adopted

Plain English: HCAHB288 4465 2965 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to Original House Bill No.

HCAHB288 4465 2965 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to Original House Bill No.
288 by Representative Boyer 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 1, line 8, change "shall" to "may" 3 AMENDMENT NO.
2 4 On page 1, line 15, change "shall" to "may" Page 1 of 1 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.

House Committee Amendment #2882 H&W Draft

Draft

Plain English: HCAHB288 4465 2882 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to Original House Bill No.

HCAHB288 4465 2882 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to Original House Bill No.
288 by Representative Boyer 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 1, line 8, change "shall" to "may" 3 AMENDMENT NO.
2 4 On page 1, line 15, change "shall" to "may" Page 1 of 1 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.

Bill History

2026-05-26 H
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
2026-05-25 S
Signed by the President of the Senate.
2026-05-25 H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
2026-05-25 H
Received from the Senate without amendments.
2026-05-21 S
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
2026-05-18 S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
2026-05-14 S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-05-13 S
Reported favorably.
2026-04-14 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.
2026-04-13 S
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-04-09 H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-04-08 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/09/2026.
2026-04-07 H
Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-04-01 H
Reported with amendments (10-0).
2026-03-09 H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.
2026-02-27 H
First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
2026-02-24 H
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.
2026-02-24 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

HEALTH CARE/RECORDS: Provides for the use of certain medical terminology in medical documentation (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 288
BY REPRESENTATIVES BOYER, ADAMS, AMEDEE, BACALA, BAYHAM,
BEAULLIEU, BILLINGS, BOUDREAUX, CARLSON, CARRIER, CHENEVERT,
CREWS, DESHOTEL, EGAN, MELERINE, OWEN, SCHAMERHORN, SPELL,
AND WYBLE
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 22:46.1 and R.S. 40:1300.81, relative to medical terminology; to provide for
3 terminology used in medical documentation; to require certain terms be included in
4 medical records and medical billing; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 22:46.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 §46.1. Use of certain medical terminology
8 Entities regulated by this Code may include the term "miscarriage" in
9 parentheses following the term "spontaneous abortion" when the term "spontaneous
10 abortion" is utilized in medical documentation, such as medical records or medical
11 billing.
12 Section 2. R.S. 40:1300.81 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §1300.81. Use of certain medical terminology
14 When the term "spontaneous abortion" is utilized in medical documentation,
15 such as medical records or medical billing, the term "miscarriage" may be added in
16 parentheses following the term "spontaneous abortion".
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 1 of 1
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.