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HB 946

HEALTH: Provides relative to penalties for noncompliance with Federal requirements for healthcare cost publication (OR +$389,507 GF EX See Note)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mandie Landry

Louisiana requires hospitals to publish prices per federal rules and bars debt collection for noncompliant items, with penalties and public noncompliance reports.

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.
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Bill Summary · HB 946

Summary: HB 946 (2026) – Health: Penalties for Noncompliance with Federal Hospital Price Transparency Requirements (Louisiana)

Purpose and Intent

HB 946 clarifies Louisiana’s legislative intent to enhance consumer access to healthcare price information and to enforce compliance with federal price transparency rules. The bill seeks to ensure that a public health service information database contains hospital pricing data published in accordance with 45 C.F.R. Part 180, and establishes penalties and remedies when hospitals are not in material compliance.

Key Provisions

  • Database and Transparency Scope

    • Amends and reenacts findings to require the health information database to consist of information published by hospitals in compliance with federal pricing regulations (45 CFR Part 180).
    • The database remains publicly accessible while protecting patient confidentiality and provider information.

  • Definitions and Compliance Framework

    • Adds new definitions for “Hospital pricing transparency requirements,” “Collection,” and designates the Louisiana Department of Health as the responsible entity for enforcement.
    • Establishes what constitutes collection actions and related hospital behaviors (e.g., debt collection, lawsuits, reporting to credit agencies).

  • Departmental Oversight and Reporting

    • The Department of Health is charged with annually verifying compliance by all healthcare providers with hospital pricing transparency requirements.
    • Beginning January 1, 2027, and each January 1 thereafter, the department must publish on its public website a list of hospitals found to be not in material compliance.

  • Patient Protections and Remedies (Post-Compliance Standards)

    • For services rendered on or after January 1, 2027:
    • Hospitals not in material compliance may not initiate or pursue collection actions against a patient or guarantor for debts related to noncompliant items or services.
    • Patients may sue to determine whether noncompliance existed at the time of service and whether the noncompliance is related to the specific items or services.
    • Hospitals cannot pursue collection actions while such a lawsuit is pending.
    • If a court finds material noncompliance, hospitals must choose one of several remedies:
      • Refund the debtor and pay a penalty equal to the debt amount to the patient or guarantor.
      • Dismiss related court actions with prejudice and pay the patient's or guarantor’s attorney fees and costs.
      • Remove related negative entries from the patient’s credit report.
      • Notify the department of the material noncompliance.

  • Limitations of Application

    • The bill clarifies that it does not prevent billing for items or services, nor does it require a hospital to refund payments, so long as no collection action occurs in violation of the statute.

Who Is Affected

  • Hospitals and Healthcare Providers: Subject to new daily compliance verification by the Department of Health; potential penalties and mandatory remedies if found materially noncompliant.
  • Patients and Guarantors: Receive stronger protections against collections for noncompliant pricing practices and may seek judicial relief if noncompliance occurred at the time of service.
  • Louisiana Department of Health: Responsible for enforcement, annual verification, and public reporting of noncompliance.

Timelines and Procedural Details

  • Effective/Effective-Related Dates:

    • January 1, 2027: First year when the department must accept and publish findings of material noncompliance.
    • Annually on January 1 thereafter: Public posting of hospitals not in material compliance.

  • Compliance Actions:

    • Noncompliant hospitals face specified remedies if a court determines material noncompliance, including refunds, penalties, court costs, and credit-report removals.

Impact Summary

HB 946 strengthens Louisiana’s implementation of federal price transparency by tying a public, Department-verified noncompliance framework to enforceable patient protections. It creates a formal process for identifying noncompliant hospitals, restricts aggressive debt collection for noncompliant items, and outlines concrete remedies to compensate patients and deter noncompliance. The act complements existing price transparency efforts by adding enforceable penalties and a public reporting mechanism.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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