Louisiana lawmakers are advancing proposals to update the state’s workers’ compensation medical reimbursement framework by aligning it more closely with neighboring states and proposing the adoption of nationally recognized, evidence-based treatment standards.

House Bill 819 would replace the current Medical Treatment Guidelines developed by the Louisiana Workforce Commission with the MCG Health Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) as the state’s governing medical treatment guidelines. For services not addressed by ODG, providers would be required to demonstrate medical necessity using other credible, evidence-based sources. If adopted, the bill would be effective August 1,2026.

House Bill 357 proposes the adoption of a new medical fee schedule effective January 1, 2027. The revised schedule must be reasonable in comparison to the state’s current methodology – which is based on the mean of usual and customary (U&C) charges and must incorporate characteristics similar to fee schedules in surrounding states. The bill also instructs the assistant secretary of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration to evaluate potential administrative and procedural reforms aimed at expediting care and payment, reducing provider paperwork, and expanding access to medical services.

Louisiana’s fee schedule has not been updated in decades and if adopted, these proposals could significantly reshape reimbursement, utilization management, and payment workflows, which would impact current processes and cost containment strategies.