Louisiana legislators limit long-term care competition

A last-minute legislative rider will extend Louisiana’s efforts to curb nursing home competition for another year.

With less than a week before the end of the legislative session, Sens. Fred Mills (R) and Jay Luneau (D) received Senate approval for an amendment to extend a five-year moratorium, set to expire this year, on “Level 4” assisted living facilities, effectively blocking private-pay assisted living facilities from entering the market. The amendment was unrelated to the original bill, designed to create a safety net for the mentally ill.

Mills told The Advocate the Louisiana Nursing Home Association asked for the amendment because regulating assisted living facilities is expensive for the state. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not approved assisted living facilities, which typically offer apartment-style living and more independent care for people with higher medical needs.

Mills owns a pharmacy and a roughly 10 percent share in a nursing home.

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.