LA HB1154

Commercial insurers and Medicaid managed care organizations are prohibited from requiring prior authorization for generic medications when prescribed by a board-certified physician whose specialty certification covers the medical indication for the drug

"Board-certified physician" is defined as a Louisiana-licensed physician certified by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or equivalent body recognized by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners

"Generic medication" is defined as a drug chemically equivalent to a brand-name drug and approved by the FDA as interchangeable

New policies, contracts, and Medicaid managed care contracts issued on or after January 1, 2027 must comply; existing plans must conform by their renewal date or no later than January 1, 2028

Federal, state, and local governmental plans such as Medicaid fee-for-service are excluded from the commercial insurer requirements