NU Online News Service, Aug. 11, 2003, 5:59 p.m. EDT – Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster Jr., a Republican, has signed H.B. 1606, a bill that attempts to give health insurers some relief from benefits mandates.
The law based on the bill forbids the state from imposing any new statutory mandate on any state-regulated health insurer, health plan or health maintenance organization between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2008.
"Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit an employer from electing to expand coverage on any group or individual health benefit plan or policy covering the employer and the employees of the employer," according to a copy of the bill text.
