Provides for reimbursement rates of services provided by CRNAs within their lawful scope of practice. (1/1/27)

SB 275 enacts new Louisiana Revised Statutes section 1037.1 to establish insurance reimbursement requirements for certified registered nurse anesthetists. The legislation mandates that health insurers reimburse CRNAs for healthcare services performed within their lawful scope of practice at rates no less than what the insurer would pay a physician for the same service, regardless of any billing modifiers or coding designations used to identify the provider. Additionally, the statute prohibits insurers from denying network participation or inclusion to CRNAs solely based on provider type or licensure status. The effective date for new policies is January 1, 2027, while existing policies must conform to the new requirements by their renewal date but no later than January 1, 2028.

CRNAs and their employers will benefit from guaranteed reimbursement parity with physicians for anesthesia and related services within their scope of practice, potentially improving access to CRNA services and reducing reimbursement disputes. Health insurers operating in Louisiana will experience regulatory obligations to restructure their fee schedules and network policies to comply with the equivalency requirement and anti-discrimination provision. Healthcare facilities, surgery centers, and hospitals that employ or contract with CRNAs may see improved operational efficiency and revenue stability from assured reimbursement rates, though insurers may adjust overall rate structures in response to the requirement.

Louisiana's regulation of health insurance falls within Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, which governs insurance law and requires insurers to comply with statutory coverage and reimbursement mandates. This statute operates within the existing framework of Louisiana healthcare licensure laws that define the scope of practice for CRNAs under state nursing board regulations. The requirement ties insurance reimbursement to services performed within lawful scope, creating a connection between state licensure standards and insurance obligations. The statute applies to all health coverage plans issued or renewed in Louisiana, and Section 2 provides transition mechanics to ensure existing policies convert to compliance without creating coverage gaps.