Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 40, § 2115.31. Legislative intent

A. The legislature finds and declares that in order to protect the health and welfare of the public it is imperative to regulate and control entities that hold themselves out to the public as providing emergency medical care.

B. The legislature further finds and declares that emergency medical services should be provided in a licensed hospital.

C. The legislature finds and declares that rural hospitals are an essential part of our state's healthcare delivery safety net and their sustainability warrants protections from competing offsite emergency departments with no inpatient hospital services encroaching into their primary service area.