Louisiana insurance law on MNT and nutrition counseling
The short answerLouisiana requires health coverage plans that cover maternity services to cover pregnancy-related nutrition counseling by a licensed dietitian or licensed nutritionist in the first trimester when the treating provider recommends it. No gestational diabetes or other diagnosis is required.
By Javier Alvarez · Updated · 1 min read
1 row: State insurance law · Louisiana. Public policy, not the member's benefits.
Louisiana insurance law
Fully insured plans (La. R.S. 22:1059.4 (Act 762 of 2024)) · Louisiana
| 97802 | Not published |
|---|---|
| 97803 | Not published |
| G0270 | Not published |
| G0271 | Not published |
| Where it applies | Any health coverage plan delivered or issued for delivery in Louisiana that provides benefits for maternity services. The act defines health coverage plan to include group insurance plans, self-insurance plans, and Office of Group Benefits programs, and excludes excepted benefits, limited benefit plans and short-term policies under 12 months. [1] |
| Diagnoses | Pregnancy. Coverage does not require a diagnosis of gestational diabetes or any other chronic health condition. [1] |
| Telehealth POS | Not published: call the payer. |
| Telehealth modifier | Not published: call the payer. |
| Visit limits | Counseling is covered in the first trimester of the pregnancy. Annual deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments consistent with the plan may apply. [1] |
| Referral and prior auth | The treating healthcare provider must recommend the counseling. [1] |
| Who can bill | A licensed dietitian or licensed nutritionist licensed under the Louisiana Dietetics/Nutrition Practice Act of 1987, R.S. 37:3081 et seq. [1] |
| Also | Plan terminology that is discriminatory against licensed dietitians or licensed nutritionists or their services is void and unenforceable. [1] |
- Louisiana 2024 Regular Session Enrolled Senate Bill 300 (Act 762), enacting R.S. 22:1059.4, checked October 30, 2026
What the Louisiana law says
- Where it applies. Any health coverage plan delivered or issued for delivery in Louisiana that provides benefits for maternity services. The act defines health coverage plan to include group insurance plans, self-insurance plans, and Office of Group Benefits programs, and excludes excepted benefits, limited benefit plans and short-term policies under 12 months.
- Diagnoses. Pregnancy. Coverage does not require a diagnosis of gestational diabetes or any other chronic health condition.
- Visit limits. Counseling is covered in the first trimester of the pregnancy. Annual deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments consistent with the plan may apply.
- Referral and prior auth. The treating healthcare provider must recommend the counseling.
- Who can bill. A licensed dietitian or licensed nutritionist licensed under the Louisiana Dietetics/Nutrition Practice Act of 1987, R.S. 37:3081 et seq.
- Also. Plan terminology that is discriminatory against licensed dietitians or licensed nutritionists or their services is void and unenforceable.
What it means for a claim in Louisiana
The law sets a floor for the plans it reaches; the plan's own policy and the member's contract still decide the codes, units and referral. On the benefits call, ask whether the plan is fully insured in Louisiana, and if a covered service is denied, name the statute by section in the appeal. The sources below link to the statute itself.
Payers with their own row for Louisiana: Louisiana Blue and Louisiana Medicaid. The state laws side by side compare Louisiana with other states.