Committee approves bill to add medical-director oversight for state veterans nursing homes

Representative Egan presented House Bill 528 to the Senate Judiciary B committee as legislation to formalize a medical oversight role within the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. The measure would convert an existing deputy director position into director of medical affairs to provide centralized oversight of contracted medical directors at five state veterans nursing homes.

LDVA witnesses told the committee the state has five contracted medical directors and currently lacks an employee whose job is to directly oversee those physicians; the proposed director would also advise the LDVA secretary on medical strategy and help expand mental-health services for residents. Dusta Guy, deputy chief of staff, and Connor Junkin, executive counsel, were introduced to answer technical and legal questions.

Representative Egan closed by asking for favorable passage; Senator McMath moved to report the bill favorably and, with no objection, the committee approved the motion. The committee recorded no further amendments to HB 528 in the hearing.

What’s next: HB 528 was reported favorably out of Judiciary B and will proceed in the legislative process.