Provides relative to psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) services. (8/1/26)

Senate Bill 255 amends Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:2162(D)(2)(a)(i) to expand the educational qualifications for individuals providing psychosocial rehabilitation services under the Louisiana Medicaid program. The bill adds health sciences and therapeutic recreation to the list of bachelor's degree fields that qualify a person to render PSR services for licensed and accredited provider agencies. Previously, the statute permitted individuals with bachelor's degrees in counseling, social work, psychology, sociology, rehabilitation services, special education, early childhood education, secondary education, family and consumer sciences, criminal justice, or human growth and development, or those holding a bachelor's degree in any field with a minor in counseling, social work, sociology, or psychology. The addition of these two fields creates an alternative educational pathway for PSR service providers without requiring a minor in one of the traditionally specified fields.

The practical effect of this legislation is to broaden the pool of qualified individuals who may provide psychosocial rehabilitation services and receive Medicaid reimbursement for those services. Providers of behavioral health services will have greater flexibility in hiring personnel for PSR service delivery, as individuals holding bachelor's degrees specifically in health sciences or therapeutic recreation will now meet the educational requirements without needing to possess a minor or second degree. This change may improve workforce availability in the behavioral health sector, particularly for individuals trained in therapeutic recreation or health sciences disciplines that share competencies with traditional PSR service delivery.

This bill operates within Louisiana's Medicaid regulatory framework governing behavioral health services. The amendment to R.S. 40:2162 modifies conditions that providers must satisfy to obtain Medicaid reimbursement for specialized behavioral health rehabilitation services, including both psychosocial rehabilitation and community psychiatric support and treatment services. The effective date of August 1, 2026, allows providers and educational institutions time to adjust their staffing and recruitment practices accordingly. The change aligns with federal Medicaid requirements that states establish qualified personnel standards for behavioral health services while preserving Louisiana's authority to define which educational credentials satisfy those standards.