Louisiana patients seeking obesity treatment and weight management services may now have greater access to care through telehealth. During the 2026 Regular Legislative Session, the Louisiana Legislature passed Senate Bill 30, now Act No. 345, removing regulatory barriers that could prevent certain licensed healthcare providers from using telehealth to evaluate, diagnose, or treat obesity or provide weight management services.
Authored by Senator Patrick McMath, Act No. 345 amended Louisiana's existing telehealth law, La. R.S. 40:1223.4, by adding a new Subsection D specifically addressing obesity treatment and weight management services. Louisiana law already required state agencies and professional and occupational licensing boards and commissions that regulate healthcare providers to promulgate rules necessary to provide for, promote, and regulate the use of telehealth within their respective scopes of practice. The existing law also required application of the same standard of care as if healthcare services were provided in person and, subject to certain exceptions, provided that a healthcare provider need not conduct an in-person patient history or physical examination before engaging in a telehealth encounter.
Act No. 345 builds on that existing framework by specifically prohibiting the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and the Louisiana State Board of Nursing from adopting or enforcing any rule or policy that prevents a licensed healthcare provider under either board's jurisdiction from using telehealth to evaluate, diagnose, or treat obesity or provide weight management services.
The law does, however, establish important conditions for providing these services remotely. A healthcare provider must conduct a synchronous interaction with the patient, act within the scope of the provider's license, and comply with the applicable standard of care. In other words, the law expands access to telehealth-based weight management services while preserving professional standards governing patient care.
The legislation is particularly notable as the demand for obesity treatment and weight management services continues to grow. By preventing the state's medical and nursing boards from categorically prohibiting telehealth for these services, Act No. 345 provides licensed healthcare providers with greater flexibility in how they deliver care and may expand access for patients who face geographic, transportation, scheduling, or other barriers to in-person treatment.
Act No. 345 became effective upon the governor's signature on May 22, 2026. Healthcare providers offering obesity treatment or weight management services through telehealth should ensure that their practices satisfy the law's real-time interaction requirement, remain within the scope of their professional licenses, and comply with all applicable standards of care and other legal and regulatory requirements.
