State Overview: Louisiana

Prior authorization requirements are up to the discretion of the state Medicaid program or insurance company.

Louisiana credentials three types of addiction counselors. A Registered Addiction Counselors requires a high school diploma, 270 hours of relevant education and 6,000 hours of supervised experience. A Certified Addiction Counselors requires a bachelor's degree, 270 of relevant education and 4,000 hours of experience. A Licensed Addiction Counselor requires a graduate degree, 270 of relevant education and 2,000 hours of experience. La. Rev. Stat. §37:3387 and Louisiana Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority

Licensed mental health counselors provide services such as prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral, and addiction disorders to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public. Counselors assist an individual or group, through psychotherapy and the counseling relationship, to develop an understanding of personal problems, to define goals, and to plan actions reflecting his or their interests, abilities, aptitudes and needs as these are related to personal and social concerns, educational progress, and occupations and careers. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §37-1103(10)

The requirements for peer support specialists are established by the Office of Behavioral Health in the Louisiana Department of Health. These requirements include minimum qualifications, training and continued education.

Physician relationship required for practice and prescriptive authority.

A collaborative practice agreement is required and includes parameters agreed upon by the NM and the collaborating physician. The agreement must include availability of the collaborating physician for consultation and/or referral, methods of management, and coverage of care in the absence of the physician. The agreement must outline prescriptive authority. This could include authority for prescription drugs and Schedule II-V controlled substances. La. Admin. Code §46-XLVII.4513

Physician relationship required for practice and prescriptive authority.

A collaborative practice agreement is required and includes parameters agreed upon by the NP and the collaborating physician. The agreement must include availability of the collaborating physician for consultation and/or referral, methods of management, and coverage of care in the absence of the physician. The agreement must outline prescriptive authority. This could include authority for prescription drugs and Schedule II-V controlled substances. La. Admin. Code §46-XLVII.4513

Only physicians are authorized to sign physician order for scope of treatment forms. La. Rev. Stat. §40:1155.3

NPs are recognized in state policy as primary care providers. AN NP chooses a population focus, which refers to one of the areas of concentrated study and practice provided to a collection of specified individuals who have characteristics in common. A broad, population-based focus of study encompasses common problems and aspects of that group of patients and the likely co-morbidities, interventions, and responses to those problems. Examples include, but are not limited to neonatal, pediatric, women's health, adult, family, mental health, etc. La. Admin. Code §46-XLVII.4505

Optometrists may perform all procedures included in their full scope of practice, including surgical and laser procedures. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §37:1041

Optometrists may administer all pharmaceutical agents for the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases, including epinephrine auto-injections to counter anaphylaxis. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §37:1041

Optometrists may prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances and also Schedule II hydrocodone or hydrocodone combination medications. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §37:1041(2)

Louisiana does not allow dental hygienist to practice with direct access.

Statute does not identify dental therapists as an oral health provider.

Louisiana does not explicitly allow for the practice of teledentistry.

Louisiana has not enacted legislation allowing pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the federal PREP Act allowed pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine through the duration of the public health emergency.

Louisiana does not allow pharmacists to modify prescriptions.

Louisiana does not allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives.

Louisiana does not allow pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation aids.

Supervision by a physician required for practice and prescriptive authority.

A PA performs medical services when such services are rendered under the supervision of a supervising physician. A PA may perform those duties and responsibilities that are delegated to him by his supervising physician. The practice of a PA shall include the performance of medical services within the scope of his education, training, and experience, which are delegated by the supervising physician. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 37:1360.31(A),(B)

A PA may prescribe, order, and administer drugs to the extent delegated by the supervising physician. Drugs which may be prescribed, ordered, and administered by a PA are those listed in Schedules II, III, IV, and V and legend drugs, which are defined as any drug or drug product bearing on the label of the manufacturer or distributor. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 37:1360.31(C)(1)-(3)

Statute limits the number of PAs a physician may supervise.

A physician approved by the board as a supervising physician, practicing in a private practice, group practice, partnership, professional medical corporation, or employed by a hospital or other health care organization or entity may be the primary supervising physician for up to eight PAs. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 37:1360.23(G)

Louisiana does not currently have any provisions related to chart review or co-signatures.

Statute allows adaptable proximity.

"Supervision" means responsible direction and control, with the supervising physician assuming legal liability for the services rendered by the PA in the course and scope of the physician assistant's employment. Such supervision shall not be construed in every case to require the physical presence of the supervising physician. However, the supervising physician and PA must have the capability to be in contact with each other by either telephone or other telecommunications device. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 37:1360.22(8)

The medical services performed by the PA are assigned by the supervising physician. Performance of medical services must be within the scope of the PA's education, training and experience. La. Rev. Stat. §37:1360.31