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Long-Sought Workers’ Comp Reform Crosses Finish Line, Sent to Governor
The Legislature on Friday gave final approval to SB 408 by Sen. Brach Myers (R-Lafayette), a comprehensive workers’ compensation reform measure supported and negotiated by LABI. In the day’s final act of business, the Senate unanimously adopted the conference committee report, with the House approving it minutes later by an 83-6 vote and sending the bill to the governor’s desk.
The six-member conference committee was comprised of three House members: Rep. Dennis Bamburg (R-Bossier City), Rep. Raymond Crews (R-Bossier City) and Rep. Brian Glorioso (R-Slidell) and three senators: Sen Jay Luneau (D-Alexandria), Sen. Myers and Sen. Thomas Pressly (R-Shreveport). The report is signed by all six conferees.
“The goal was always to figure out how do we get injured workers back to work faster and keep a healthy workforce in the state of Louisiana, and when people are hurt, that we are doing the right thing by taking care of them in a meaningful way,” Sen. Myers said.
Conferees opted to remove House amendments that would have addressed policies surrounding maximum medical improvement (MMI) and temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. Instead, the final report keeps the legislation focused on modernization rather than expanding substantive benefit changes.
The conference report maintains the current medical reimbursement schedule while directing the Office of Workers’ Compensation to collect and analyze comprehensive medical billing and payment data. Before the 2029 Regular Session, the office must provide lawmakers with a detailed report examining charges, allowed amounts, payments, utilization trends, access to care, outlier billing practices and comparisons to other payment systems, including Medicare.
As has been the case from the beginning, any future changes specific to the fee schedule would still require legislative approval, ensuring policymakers retain oversight of major workers’ compensation reimbursement decisions.
The report also maintains several long-discussed modernization efforts, including a transition toward electronic billing, improved data collection, clearer timelines and greater system transparency. Together, these reforms establish the foundation for future policy decisions based on real claims data rather than assumptions, creating a more modern and accountable workers’ compensation system for Louisiana employers and employees alike.
While some provisions that LABI believed would improve consistency, reduce unnecessary litigation and strengthen predictability for both employees and employers were removed during negotiations, the final agreement addresses major challenges within the system and, if signed by the governor, would represent a significant update to Louisiana’s workers’ compensation law, moving the state toward a more modern and balanced framework.