This section creates special rules for certain Louisiana Department of Health physicians, including conflict disclosures, compensation tied to hours worked, full-time service for some roles, and quarterly reporting to the legislature.
§1123.2. Exception; certain positions at the Louisiana Department of Health A.(1) The provisions of R.S. 42:1111(C), 1112, and 1113 shall not apply to an exempted physician in the performance of the functions and duties of a position listed in Subsection D of this Section or to the practice of medicine by the exempted physician outside of the performance of such functions and duties. (2) The provisions of R.S. 42:1111(E) shall not apply to an exempted physician but only to the extent that the transaction with the Louisiana Department of Health is limited to and necessary for the physician's medical care of patients. B. The provisions of R.S. 42:1121 shall not apply to a former exempted physician who served in the position described in Paragraph (D)(4) of this Section. C. Prior to being employed by or contracting with the Louisiana Department of Health or an agency thereof to serve in a position listed in Subsection D of this Section, a licensed Louisiana physician shall disclose to the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health any possible conflicts of interest that could arise in performing the functions and duties of the position, including outside employment and business interests. All such disclosures shall be written and shall be a public record. D. For purposes of this Section, "exempted physician" means a licensed Louisiana physician who is employed by or who has contracted with the Louisiana Department of Health or an agency thereof to serve in any of the following positions: (1) Assistant secretary for the office of public health. (2) Medicaid medical director. (3) Medical director of the office of behavioral health. (4) Physician, Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System, competency restoration program. (5) Cancer policy director. (6) The surgeon general of the office of the surgeon general. E.(1) The compensation paid by the Louisiana Department of Health to each physician in a position listed in Subsection D of this Section shall be commensurate with the number of hours worked in such position by the physician. (2) Each physician in a position listed in Paragraph (D)(1), (2), (3), or (5) of this Section shall be required to work full-time in the position. F. The Louisiana Department of Health shall submit a quarterly report to the legislature containing the name of the physician in a position listed in Subsection D of this Section, the position, the number of hours worked by the physician during the previous quarter, and the amount of compensation received by the physician from the department during the previous quarter. Acts 2018, No. 463, §1; Acts 2024, No. 739, §3, eff. June 19, 2024.