Schools would protect access to on-campus health services

Public school employees would not be allowed to block a student's medically necessary school-based health services when the required consent exists. This covers primary and behavioral health services provided on school grounds through clinics, mobile units, or other provider arrangements. A parent or legal guardian must consent, unless the student is an adult and consents. The services must be medically necessary and delivered by a properly licensed, certified, or registered healthcare provider. Schools would not have to create or provide school-based health services. A parent or guardian may revoke consent at any time.

Public school governing authorities would have to adopt and publish a policy for school-based health services, including rules for provider checks, scheduling, privacy, and medical decision-making. The rules apply to public schools with available school-based health services and to the providers, employees, and students involved in those services. Qualified providers with a Louisiana State Police background check and good standing would not need another school-ordered background check. Schools could not block health evaluations or authorized treatment plans on school property. Schools and health centers would work together on schedules that address medical needs, provider ethics, school operations, and instructional or testing time. Health centers would not have to sign agreements requiring disclosure of protected health information. Shared information would be limited to nonclinical information needed for care coordination, safety, or legal compliance and would remain subject to confidentiality laws summarized in the text before the privacy rule applies.

Charter schools would have to follow the school-based health-services requirements unless their approved charter specifically provides otherwise. This applies to charter schools established and operated under the charter-school chapter and their officers and employees. The requirement is listed as an exception to the usual exemption from statutory public-school requirements. The referenced requirements are those in R.S. 17:171.1.