LA HB117

Requires the assistant secretary of workers' compensation to promulgate a new medical reimbursement schedule effective January 1, 2026, with rates benchmarked against surrounding states rather than the current "mean of usual and customary charges" standard.

Mandates annual adjustments to the reimbursement schedule supported by collected data, changing from the previous discretionary ("may") to mandatory ("shall") updates.

Directs the assistant secretary to examine administrative relief, paperwork reductions, and expanded medical market access for healthcare providers.

Requires data collection through written surveys managed jointly by the office of workers' compensation and an academic institution, with minimum 30 providers reporting and no single provider representing more than 25% of any statistic.

Establishes quarterly reporting to House and Senate labor committees with legislative oversight over the rate study process.