At HEALS of the South, our mission is rooted in the simple belief that healthcare policy should start and end with patients. Across Louisiana, families are facing real challenges when it comes to affording their care and accessing the treatments their doctors prescribe. This legislative session presents an important opportunity to move toward solutions that do both.
That’s why we joined a broad coalition of patient, provider, and community groups in sending a joint letter to lawmakers. Our message is clear: Louisiana should prioritize patient-centered policies that improve affordability and protect access to care.
There are practical steps the Legislature can take right now to move in that direction. Targeted pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reforms, like those included in SB 337 led by Senator Harris, would increase transparency in the healthcare system, reduce PBM incentives that can drive up costs, and ensure patients can get the medicines their doctors prescribe at a lower out-of-pocket cost.
At the same time, it’s important to approach other proposals with caution.
Policies that rely on government price-setting, like SB 369, or new bureaucratic boards, like the Prescription Drug Affordability Boards that SB 401 / HB 918 would create to determine what treatments are “affordable,” may sound like solutions, but in practice, they risk limiting access to care or delaying treatment decisions.
Patients should never be caught in the middle of policies that unintentionally create new barriers. By focusing on solutions that are transparent, balanced, and centered on real patient needs, Louisiana lawmakers can ensure that people across the state can afford their care and access the treatments they depend on.
We encourage you to read the full joint letter to learn more about how Louisiana can put patients first this session.