February 11, 2026 The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Announces the release of the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) rate study

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Feb 11, 2026 - The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) would like to announce the release of the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) rate study. In 2025, LDH undertook a rate study to determine whether Louisiana’s HCBS payment rates were sufficient. LDH contracted with Milliman to complete the rate study, after receiving input from legislators, interested provider groups, and advocacy organizations. LDH and Milliman worked with stakeholder input groups through 2024 and 2025 to come up with a comprehensive rate model, which looked at historical rates, rate assumptions based on state and national data, as well as provider cost reports.

LDH has learned important lessons from the rate study, and we are committed to making rate setting more objective—establishing a framework for determining rates while giving a transparent look at the cost to provide such services. We are committed to ensuring transparency and equitable rates that help increase direct care workers’ wages, stabilize the direct care workforce, and create better outcomes for the individuals we serve. We will continue to engage in conversations with the relevant parties.