Louisiana bans freestanding ERs to protect rural hospitals

In an effort to protect rural hospitals in Louisiana, state lawmakers have passed a bill that bans the creation of most freestanding emergency rooms.

The bill, Senate Bill 36, will prohibit the creation of freestanding ERs in Louisiana that are not part of a hospital's main campus or owned by a hospital but located off-site. Additionally, no hospital may build an off-site, stand-alone ER within the primary service area of a rural hospital.

Republican state Sen. Fred Mills, the author of the bill, said stand-alone ERs drain services and revenue from rural hospitals that already operate with small margins.

The bill doesn't apply to any "nonprofit licensed hospital that complies… [and] that has obtained a building or construction permit for a new off-site campus or hospital prior to April 1, 2019," the bill reads.

The bill passed with a 33-1 vote in the Senate and a 92-0 vote in the House, sending the measure to the desk of Louisiana Gov. John Edwards.

More articles on facilities management:

Banner Health starts $106M expansion
ProMedica to open $386M tower in July
Houston Methodist plans $240M expansion

Copyright © 2025 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.


You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, please review our Privacy Policy
.
 

Articles We Think You'll Like