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Bill

HR 218

MEDICAID: Requests the Louisiana Department of Health to coordinate with stakeholders to develop a healthcare plan for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tehmi Chassion and 2 co-sponsors

Louisiana directs its Department of Health to coordinate with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive healthcare plan for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.
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Bill Summary · HR 218

Legislative bill overview

HR 218 directs the Louisiana Department of Health to work with relevant stakeholders to develop a comprehensive healthcare plan specifically for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The bill passed unanimously (90-0) and has been signed into law, representing a legislative directive rather than direct funding or program creation.

Why is this important

Individuals with IDD often face significant barriers to accessing coordinated, appropriate healthcare services. This directive requires the state to systematically address gaps in care, service coordination, and health outcomes for a vulnerable population that frequently encounters fragmented medical systems and providers unfamiliar with their specific needs.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation without dedicated funding: The bill mandates planning but doesn't appear to allocate specific budget resources, raising questions about whether the Department of Health can execute this directive with existing resources
  • Stakeholder definition and coordination: "Stakeholders" is undefined, leaving ambiguity about which providers, advocacy groups, families, and agencies must participate and how conflicts between different stakeholders will be resolved
  • Outcome accountability: The bill requests a plan but doesn't establish measurable benchmarks, timelines for implementation, or mechanisms to evaluate whether the resulting healthcare system actually improves outcomes for this population

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

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