Louisiana
Louisiana approves regulations on doctor ‘noncompetes,’ a win for Ochsner competitors
In a major victory for Louisiana hospitals who compete with the giant Ochsner Health System, the state Legislature on Tuesday approved a bill restricting “noncompete” agreements for physicians — a step supporters say will keep more doctors in the state and improve health care.
The legislation, Senate Bill 165, says physician contracts can only contain the so-called noncompete clauses for up to five years depending on doctors’ specialties. If they leave a job while their contracts contain such a clause, doctors would be subject to those agreements for up to two extra years and would be barred from practicing medicine in as many as three parishes that surround their employer.
Under current law, hospitals can put noncompete clauses into contracts for as long as they wish. And there’s no restriction on the number of parishes the deals can cover, which can bar doctors from moving freely between jobs in Louisiana, supporters of regulation say.
The bill, carried by Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, passed the state House 100-0 Tuesday after initially passing the Senate unanimously, too. It’s the culmination of a years-long battle between Ochsner and its competitors.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Rep. Stephanie Berault, R-Slidell, who presented the bill for McMath in the House. “It’s an important piece of legislation (not just) for our physicians, but for patients and the people of Louisiana.”
In a statement on the vote provided by a spokesperson, Ochsner Chief Physician Executive Dr. Robert Hart said the health system makes “significant investments in our care teams and specialty programs so we can continue to attract and retain top talent.”
“We will continue to work with our physicians, the Louisiana Department of Health and the state legislature to ensure access to high-quality care in our communities,” Hart said.
The hospital system is a staunch believer in noncompete agreements, deploying them regularly with physicians they employ. Ochsner and other defenders of the practice say it lets hospitals limit risk, ensuring they aren’t investing big money into training and supporting doctors only to see them leave and take their patients to another nearby clinic.
Supporters of rolling back noncompete agreements counter that they force doctors out of the state, especially as Ochsner has grown its footprint to include a wide swath of Louisiana. Many agreement provisions say that once an Ochsner doctor leaves, they can’t work for two years in any parish where Ochsner has a presence.
The outcome of McMath’s legislation, which heads now to the desk of Gov. Jeff Landry, was cheered by some of Ochsner’s main competitors. Ryan Cross, a lobbyist with Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, which runs Our Lady of the Lake Health, called the vote “a big win for patients and physicians across Louisiana,” and said the legislation will keep strong physicians in the state.
The bill now heads to the governor for his signature or veto. A Landry spokesperson did not immediately respond to a question about the governor’s position on the bill. But McMath, the bill’s sponsor, said that Landry’s appointed health secretary, Dr. Ralph Abraham, was pivotal in marshaling support for the bill.
The debate over hospital noncompete clauses last surfaced in 2021 when a bill by Rep. Mark Wright, R-Covington, proposed similar restrictions on the practice. Wright’s House Bill 483 laid out a time limit and a buyout provision for certain doctors and sought to exempt rural hospitals that use noncompete clauses from the limits.
After passing the House, that bill died in a Senate committee.
McMath cast it as a means to bolster care in rural and underserved parts of Louisiana where hospitals already struggle to hire and retain physicians. He said he personally knew of three physicians who’ve left Louisiana rather than violate the terms of noncompetes.
Separately from the legislation approved in Louisiana, the Federal Trade Commission voted several weeks ago to enact a total ban on noncompete agreements. According to the FTC, 30 million people — roughly one in five workers — are now subject to such restrictions.
The rule, which doesn’t apply to workers at non-profits, is to take effect in three months but is expected to face in legal challenges. The FTC rule also doesn’t apply to not-for-profit employers. Ochsner is a not-for-profit health system.
BATON ROUGE (KNOE) – Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming is accusing Governor Jeff Landry of interfering with the state Senate race, which Fleming is a part of.
Fleming took to social media to accuse Landry of working “behind the scenes” to get Congresswoman Julia Letlow elected to the Senate.
According to Fleming, Dr. Ralph Abraham offered him the position of Deputy Director of the CDC shortly before announcing he was stepping down. Fleming said he politely declined.
A week later, news broke that Abraham is now leading Letlow’s Senate campaign.
“We know that Jeff has been heavily lobbying the Trump campaign team for the endorsement, he is pressuring the Republican Party of Louisiana and the Republican Executive Committees to support and endorse Letlow as well,” Fleming wrote on Facebook. “And, he is personally calling his donors to raise big money to save the Letlow campaign.
Landry formally endorsed Letlow for the U.S. Senate on March 4. Letlow also has the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
“We need a warrior who stands with the President to Make America Great. And there’s no greater warrior than a Louisiana mom,” Landry wrote on Facebook.
Fleming continued his commentary, asking when Landry will stop interfering with the state’s Senate race.
“Who is best to decide who represents you in Washington? Jeff Landry, or YOU?” Fleming asked.
Also in the heated race is incumbent Bill Cassidy, M.D.
Party primary elections in Louisiana are set for May 16, 2026.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 3 drawing
07-21-53-54-62, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 3 drawing
6-8-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 3 drawing
3-6-7-4
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from March 3 drawing
0-8-3-2-0
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.
By mail, follow these instructions:
- Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
- Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
- Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
- Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.
Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:
Louisiana Lottery Headquarters
555 Laurel Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:
555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.
When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
- Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
- Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Louisiana
Brother of Louisiana mayor accused of raping 16-year-old has a hauntingly similar criminal past
The brother of Louisiana mayor Misty Roberts — accused of raping her son’s teenage friend — is facing child sex crimes of his own.
Brandon Lee Roberts, 39, was accused of raping a teen girl and assaulting a young woman over the course of several years, KALB reported.
The alleged sexual abuse began when one of the victims was as young as 13, according to Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford.
He was arrested in October.
That comes years after his big sister – ex-mayor of DeRidder, 43-year-old Misty Roberts – allegedly got hot and heavy with her son’s 16-year-old friend at a drunken party at their home.
Roberts was allegedly caught in the tryst by her own kids.
She was arrested months later, and is currently on trial for rape charges.
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