Title V in Louisiana facilitates high-quality services and innovative practices that protect and promote the health of women, children, and children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Housed within the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Office of Public Health (OPH), Bureau of Family Health (BFH), Title V leads state efforts to improve health outcomes for the maternal and child health (MCH) and CYSHCN populations. BFH works to improve population health and bolster health system capacity by:

• Monitoring data to identify, understand, and respond to complex challenges and opportunities
• Aligning efforts and resources to improve community health
• Testing, scaling, and spreading evidence-based solutions and best practices
• Building coordinated partnerships to advance system-level goals

 

Like other states, the health and well-being of women, children, and families in Louisiana is influenced by the strengths, challenges, and changes in state and local community systems. Louisiana Title V continues to adapt and respond to changes within these complex systems while increasing the state’s capacity to monitor population health and inform healthcare policy and practice.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact state systems, healthcare delivery, and quality of life for Louisiana residents. Early in the pandemic, cases of COVID-19 grew more rapidly in Louisiana compared to other states. Throughout 2020 and 2021, various protective mandates were issued at state and local levels to curtail the spread of infection.

At time of writing (July 2022), infection rates, deaths, and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have reduced significantly compared to the summer of 2021. Nevertheless, novel COVID-19 variants remain a concern, and reinfections are on the rise. There are 684 Louisianans currently hospitalized for COVID-19, compared to 3,000 in August 2021. Less than 20 of these patients are on ventilators. At time of writing, nearly 54% of the state population has been fully vaccinated.1

The following sections describe the most significant changes that have occurred in recent years in the state and the healthcare system.

Understanding the Health Status and Needs of the MCH Population in Louisiana

The Place: Louisiana is the 31st largest state in the country, covering an area of 43,204 square miles along the Gulf of Mexico (Map 1). Louisiana consists of flat lowlands located on the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River’s alluvial plain. The economy is heavily dependent on its fertile soils and water to support farming and fishing industries. Louisiana also is one of the leading producers of natural gas and petroleum.

Of Louisiana’s 64 parishes (counties), 30 are considered rural per the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.2 The largest urban centers include New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Hurricanes, industrial contamination, and loss of wetlands threaten the economy, safety, and well-being of Louisiana’s communities and residents. Significant historical events in the past decade include severe flooding in 2016; tornados and flooding due to Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Zeta in 2020, and Hurricane Ida in 2021.

The People: Louisiana’s population of about 4.6 million people encompasses a distinct multicultural and linguistic landscape that has been influenced by centuries of colonialism and servitude. Today, the majority of the population in Louisiana identifies as White (62.4%), Black (33%), 5.6% identify as Hispanic/Latino, 1.9% Asian (majority Vietnamese), 1.8% two or more races, and 0.8% American Indian/Alaskan Native, with four federally recognized American Indian tribes and several state/local tribes.3,4 Nearly four out of every five residents were born in-state.3 A sizable majority (86%) of the state population self-identifies as religious, and nearly half of all Louisiana adults attend religious services at least once per week.5 The state is known for its strong community bonds and boasts some of the longest-lasting cultural traditions in the United States.

Challenges and Strengths: There are many challenges and strengths present in Louisiana’s systems, politics, and communities that affect the health and wellbeing of the state’s maternal and child population. The Louisiana Title V Program identifies these challenges and strengths through the lens of the social determinants of health (SDOH): the conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, and play. Specifically, social and community context, economic stability, education, neighborhood environments, and health and healthcare all pose various challenges and opportunities for health.

 

 

Louisiana’s history of colonization, slavery, and legalized racism disempowered and oppressed portions of Louisiana’s population over multiple centuries. While laws and policies have changed over time, these historical inequities continue to take a significant toll on communities in the state and are perpetuated – often unknowingly - through institutional bias. The resulting, persistent racial disparities can be best interpreted in light of the conditions in which people are born and live--conditions largely affected by historical and institutional structures and policies that uphold differential access to resources and systems of influence and authority.

Economic instability poses a major challenge to the attainment of health for many Louisianans. In 2020, 18.6% of the population lived at or below the FPL, with over 26% of all children (under age 18) living in poverty. Louisiana women are more likely to live in poverty than men (20.4% vs. 16.7%), and Black (30.5%) and indigenous (21.4%) households are more likely to live in poverty than Asian (12.4%) or white (12.2%) households. The median household income in Louisiana is $50,800 – just 78% of the national median household income of $65,000. Low educational attainment is another challenge. Adults in Louisiana are less likely to finish high school than their peers across the US (14.2% vs. 11.5%).3 Conditions of poverty pose unique challenges for CYSHCN families. For parents and caregivers with CYSHCN, full-time employment means less time spent coordinating care for their children, and out-of-pocket medical expenses for this population are more extensive than those of non-CYSHCN, regardless of insurance coverage. 

Louisianans consistently experience poorer health outcomes compared to the rest of the nation. According to America’s Health Rankings 2021, Louisiana ranked 49th in the nation in overall health.6 Low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), infant mortality, maternal mortality, and CYSHCN status remain significant challenges for the MCH population. Compared to the national average, Louisiana has a higher proportion of CYSHCN. Approximately 22% of children in Louisiana have special health care needs.7

Louisiana has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the US. Similar to nationwide trends, Black infants in Louisiana die at twice the rate of White infants. The state’s maternal mortality rate is also significantly higher than the national average. In Louisiana, Black mothers are four times more likely to die than white mothers.6,8

Drug and opioid abuse are growing areas of alarm. From 2018-2019, opioid-involved deaths increased by 25%, from 470 to 588.9 Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) is also a growing concern, which will be further discussed in the State Action Plan section on Women’s/Maternal Health.

Impact of COVID-19: As of July 2022, more than 1.3 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Louisiana. Roughly 6% of these cases were reinfections (85,488). Nearly 17,500 people have died, and thousands more have been hospitalized.1 Conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and obesity have been identified as risk factors for COVID-19 complications.10 The Louisiana population has higher-than-national-average rates for nearly all of these risk factors. This leaves Louisianians especially susceptible to complications and deaths due to COVID-19. Since December 2020, 54% of the state population has completed a vaccine series. More than 5 million vaccine doses have been administered.1

Impact of Hurricane Ida: On August 29, 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane. Thousands of Louisiana residents evacuated in advance of the storm. Hurricane Ida caused catastrophic damage to parts of southeast Louisiana and severe damage in other parts of the state. Thousands of buildings were damaged by Ida’s wind and surge. The most impacted areas were the coastal portions of Lafourche and Jefferson Parishes. More than one million residents across the state went without power for several days in extreme heat and humidity. Thirteen Louisianans died due to heat exhaustion during these outages. The storm disrupted several systems across the state for weeks, and in some places months. It is estimated that Ida caused more than $55 billion worth of damages in Louisiana.11

Mental Health: In 2018-2019, 21.2% of adults in Louisiana had a mental illness. These issues are exacerbated – or even precipitated - by adverse experiences like global pandemics and natural disasters. In fact, from September 29 to October 11, 2021 - less than five weeks after Hurricane Ida - 32.5% of adults in Louisiana reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder.12

Adverse experiences in childhood can impact the mental and physical well-being of individuals throughout the life course. Louisiana’s Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) rate is one of the highest in the nation. Nearly 20% of Louisiana children age 0-17 have experienced two or more ACEs, compared to 14.8% nationally.6 Suicide is another concern for children and young adults. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide was the 3rd leading cause of death for Louisianans aged 10-24 and 25-34 in 2020.13 Mothers are also at risk for mental health issues. Maternal depression is on the rise, with 19.1% of recent mothers reporting postpartum depressive symptoms in 2019, compared to 15.1% in 2017.14

Despite these challenges, mental health care access remains a challenge for many in Louisiana. From 2018-2019, 75.3% of adults with mild mental illness, 45.6% of adults with moderate mental illness, and 44.3% of adults with serious mental illness in the past year did not receive mental health treatment. As of June 2022, Louisiana has 163 Mental Health Care Professional Shortage Areas (MHCPSA) as designated by the HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce. More than 72% of communities across the state qualify as a MHCPSA.12

Health Care Coverage: Historically, Louisiana had one of the highest uninsured rates in the nation. In July of 2016, Medicaid was expanded to all adults under 138% of the federal poverty line (FPL) (children were not part of this expansion population because children in that income range are already eligible for public insurance coverage). With that change in health policy, Louisiana experienced one of the largest reductions in the uninsured rate for any state. With the expansion of Medicaid, more than 516,000 adult men and women have gained health care coverage under public insurance. With the inclusion of the expansion population, Medicaid is now responsible for approximately 1.5 million child and adult participants in Louisiana.15 Furthermore, Medicaid expansion has had a significant positive impact on Louisiana’s economy: within the first year of Medicaid expansion, more than 19,000 new jobs were created and $178 million in new state and local revenues were generated.16 Economic gains are expected to continue, with the state projected to save $1 billion by 2028 due to Medicaid expansion.17

Another strength in Louisiana is the long-standing commitment to facilitating healthcare coverage for children. Louisiana has achieved and sustained high rates of coverage for children. Between 2009 and 2016, the percentage of uninsured children decreased from 7% to 3%, and this decrease has been sustained for several years.18 More than half of CYSHCN in Louisiana have public insurance which is higher than the national average.19

Louisiana's early care and education system has also undergone significant change in an effort to better serve the state's families. Child care licensing was unified with other early education programs under the Louisiana Department of Education in 2015 in order to create a cohesive early childhood system and improve school readiness. This system has continued to stabilize and mature, though access to childcare subsidies remains more limited than a decade ago.  According to the State of Babies Yearbook 2022, Louisiana lags behind the national averages for every measure associated with positive early learning experiences.20 Given the state of early childhood education in Louisiana, Governor Edwards has declared this issue a top priority for his second term.

In 2021, Louisiana had one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, according to the Prison Policy Initiative (1,094 people per 100,000 are detained in prisons, jails, immigration detention, and juvenile justice facilities, compared to 664 nationally).21 This rate is impacted by sentencing laws for non-violent offenses, Louisiana’s approach to funding jails and prisons, the privatization of facilities, and a lack of investment in services and supports. Under Governor Edwards, the state has begun efforts to reform the criminal justice system. While these changes are promising, additional reform is necessary.

Systems of Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations

Financing and Integration of Services: In 2012, Louisiana Medicaid began transitioning from a fee-for-service system to a network of managed care organizations (MCOs) to cover Medicaid services for children and adults. As of 2015, the state's MCOs have been responsible for both physical health and behavioral health benefits.

Mandatory MCO populations include the majority of Medicaid eligible population groups including children under 19 years of age, individuals and families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Child Health and Maternity Program (CHAMP)-Child Program, Deemed Eligible Child Program, foster care children, youth aging out of foster care, former foster care children through the age of 26, Regular Medically Needy Program, Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP), Blind/Disabled Children, eligible parents and caregiver relatives, pregnant women, LaMOMs, breast and cervical cancer program, aged, blind and disabled adults, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program, individuals diagnosed with tuberculosis and the new adults expansion population. Although there are populations excluded from managed care such as dual-eligible (those who receive both Medicare and Medicaid), waiver recipients, and individuals in long-term care, individuals receiving services through the 1915(c) Home and Community Based Waivers, such as Children’s Choice, are considered voluntary opt-in populations for MCO services and benefits. Furthermore, some dual-eligible are mandatorily enrolled in the MCOs for Specialized Behavioral Health Services, and non-emergency medical transportation.

The MCOs are required to cover all state plan services including the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) at or above the Medicaid published rate, unless the provider/MCO contract allows a different reimbursement rate. These plans also have flexibility to provide other services that will help meet their members' needs through value-added benefits or additional network coverage. Plans are required to report on certain quality measures, with plans offering incentives to both providers and members. Examples of various incentives for members include gift cards for preventative care such as wellness checks, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screenings and prenatal and postnatal care. Extra benefits offered include dental care and hearing aids for adults, tobacco cessation and weight management.

In February 2019, the state Medicaid program released a competitive solicitation to re-bid MCO contracts. Initially, four companies were selected for the new MCO contracts - three companies that currently hold contracts and one new insurer. The two insurance companies that were not selected filed a legal protest that prevented the new contracts from being awarded. In January 2020, the governor signed emergency contracts with the existing five MCOs to prevent disruption of health care coverage for enrollees. In August 2020, LDH announced that rather than continue with the legal proceedings, a new solicitation would be issued.

In June 2021, LDH released the new Request for Proposals, which placed emphasis on health equity, maternal and child outcome improvement, behavioral health integration, delivery system reform, disaster planning and recovery, Department of Justice settlement agreement requirements, fraud, waste and abuse initiatives, and increased MCO accountability. In June 2022, LDH announced an intent to award contracts to six MCOs. The new MCO contracts are expected to go live in January 2023.

Health Services Infrastructure: Overall, Louisiana is recognized as having a substantial and growing unmet need for primary care services.  As of June 2022, the US Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workers recognized 176 primary care shortage areas in the state, compared to 148 in 2020 and 155 in 2021. The number of mental health shortage areas also increased; there are now 163 recognized mental health shortage areas, compared to 144 in 2020 and 151 in 2021.22 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and Rural Health Clinics (RHC) are essential to addressing these needs. Louisiana currently has 260 FQHCs operated by 39 community health center organizations, and 160 RHC providing primary care and mental health services in the state. Furthermore, a statewide network of 57 school-based health centers affiliated with OPH BFH provide additional access, in particular for adolescents.

Services related to mental health are a critical need, as reflected in the federal shortage area designations, the OPH State Health Assessment, and the 2020 Title V Needs Assessment. The Healthy Louisiana MCOs are required to ensure network adequacy based on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines and assist their members with making arrangements for access to services, including transportation upon request. The EPSDT mandate makes fulfilling this need a state obligation, in addition to a contractual obligation. However, the specific gaps and problems are not well documented. Assessing the health system performance related to mental health needs will be a priority for Title V. In addition, Title V has begun to prepare for scaling provider capacity-building interventions. Provider-to-provider consultation to support first-line identification and management of social-emotional and psychiatric concerns is one such system-strengthening intervention that has been gaining interest in Louisiana.

 Changes in OPH Services: Louisiana's statewide network of OPH Parish Health Units (PHUs) once served as the state’s main provider of primary care for low-income women, children and families. Over the past 15 years, however, care has been transitioned to private providers (such as FQHCs) as Medicaid has become more widely accepted. PHUs now primarily provide essential public health services, with a focus on high-quality family planning and sexually transmitted disease (STD) services, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), CYSHCN safety-net specialty services, immunizations, and tuberculosis testing and treatment. Funded through Title V federal and state allocations, PHUs in LDH Regions 2-9 (see Figure 2 below) provide a total of 29 sub-specialty and genetics clinics for CYSHCN.

Figure 2. Louisiana Department of Health Administrative Regions

Additionally, 57 of the 70 PHUs provide Title X-sponsored reproductive health services, with programmatic oversight provided by the BFH Reproductive Health Program (RHP).

Over the past several years, OPH leadership has made critical investments in the overall infrastructure needed to modernize the PHU clinical service system and support sustainability. Most notably, OPH established the Bureau of Regional and Central Operations (BRCO), a new unit with dedicated roles to oversee the operations of the OPH PHU clinic system. BFH is in the process of transitioning the day-to-day management of the OPH PHU clinics fully to BRCO. Currently, there are many policy and oversight functions that are shared between BFH and BRCO, and leadership from the two bureaus have been working to delineate a new scope and role for each bureau in the administration of Title V and Title X clinical services offered through OPH.

State Health Agency Priorities and Influence on Title V Service Delivery

There are several significant priorities within LDH, OPH, and OPH BFH that affect Title V programming:

• Office on Women’s Health and Community Health: During the 2021 Regular Session of the Louisiana State Legislature, Act 676 was signed into law to establish an Office on Women's Health and Community Health within the Louisiana Department of Health. The new Office is charged with “leading and coordinating efforts within the Louisiana Department of Health that are intended to improve women’s health outcomes through policy, education, evidence-based practices, programs, and services.” The law also establishes a new Assistant Secretary position and states that “the department may consolidate efforts on women's health and community health within the department as deemed appropriate by the secretary of the department.” At the time of this submission, it is unclear how Title V programs and services will be impacted. While it is likely that women-serving Title V programs and services will be impacted, the manner of and extent to which they will be is not defined in the legislation. As planning and implementation for the new Office commences, the Title V Director will work with LDH leadership to ensure any impacted Title V programs and services are adequately supported throughout the transition. 
• State Health Assessment/State Health Improvement Plan: In 2019, LDH OPH earned accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board. As part of OPH’s ongoing efforts to maintain accreditation, OPH conducted State Health Assessment (SHA) and is moving towards developing the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP). Identified through a community-informed process, the SHIP will be guided by the work of the priority workgroups in: Behavioral Health, Chronic Disease, Community Safety, and Maternal & Child Health. The Title V Strategy Manager has served as a member of the core SHA/SHIP steering committee since the beginning of the SHA process, and several other BFH staff have participated in various activities and discussions throughout. OPH will be establishing a Maternal and Child Health Workgroup, which will be open to all residents of Louisiana, to facilitate the development of the MCH portion of the SHIP. Title V will support the work of this group and explore opportunities for Title V to support the implementation of the resulting SHIP strategies.
• LDH Business Plan: In 2020, the Secretary of LDH charged office and bureau leadership across the department to develop a comprehensive LDH Business Plan for SFY2021 to promote coordinated strategy and accountability across the department. The Louisiana Medicaid and Title V programs collaboratively developed the portion of the business plan related to maternal and child health. The MCH-focused strategies aimed to improve maternal health outcomes, strengthening Louisiana’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) system, and improving systems that support breastfeeding initiation. After successfully implementing of the inaugural LDH Business Plan Louisiana Title V, WIC, and Medicaid worked together to develop new strategies for SFY 2022 related to improving health outcomes from pregnancy through childhood, strengthening, expanding, and diversifying Louisiana’s healthcare workforce; and improving systems to support people living with Sickle Cell Disease. Most of these strategies directly align with those outlined in the FFY 2023 Title V State Action Plan.

 

Louisiana State Statutes and Regulations

Louisiana Revised Statutes

LA Rev Stat 40:1081.2- Providers attending newborn children must test for LDH approved/required genetic diseases

 

LA Rev Stat 40:1081.5 - LDH establishes and operates clinics in cooperation with medical schools at LSU and Tulane to treat those with sickle cell anemia

 

LA Rev Stat 40:1081.1 -LDH to establish programs for combating phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, galactosemia, sickle cell disease, biotinidase deficiency, and other genetic conditions

 

LA Rev Stat 40:2018.3 - LDH establishes the Louisiana Sickle Cell Commission

 

LA Rev Stat 40:1081.7 - LDH to establish local programs to treat victims of sickle cell anemia and components of treatment

 

LA Rev Stat 40:1081.8 - Outlines functions of the sickle cell navigator program, to be administered by LDH under direction of Sickle Cell Commission; implemented upon appropriated funding

 

LA Rev Stat 40:1071-5 - (CSHS Enabling legislation): Designates OPH to cooperate with Title V of the Social Security Act; receive and expend federal funds for services to extend and improve services for children with special health care needs.

LA Rev Stat §40:31.3 - (ASHP Enabling legislation): The Office of Public Health, Department of Health and Hospitals [currently Louisiana Department of Health], shall establish an adolescent school health initiative.

 

LA Rev Stat 40:2018 (Perinatal Commission Enabling Legislation) - Establishes the Commission on Perinatal Care and Prevention of Infant Mortality. 

 

LA Rev Stat 40:2019 - (Child Death Review Enabling Legislation) - Establishes a child death review panel, protocols, criteria for reporting and investigations for the unexpected deaths of children below the age of fifteen and the ability to suggest recommendations within the agencies presented on the state panel.

 

LA Rev Stat 40:1081.1-7 (Newborn Screening and Sickle Cell Programs Enabling Legislation) - Authorizes LDH to screen for and establish programs designed to reduce mortality and morbidity from sickle cell disease and other genetic conditions.

 

LA Rev Stat 40:1285.1-.5 (Lead Screening Program Enabling Legislation) - Establishes a program for the prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of lead poisoning in the Office of Public Health; Mandatory reporting of lead poisoning cases required; comprehensive records

 

LA Rev Stat 46:2263-4 (Newborn Hearing Screening Enabling Legislation) - Establishes within OPH a program to provide for the early identification and follow-up of infants susceptible to a hearing disability, of deaf or hard of hearing infants, and of infants who have a risk factor for developing progressive hearing loss; establishes an advisory council.

 

LA Rev. Stat. 46.2351-2356 (Louisiana Commission for the Deaf Enabling Legislation) - Establishes the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf within the Louisiana Department of Health; defined duties; permits LDH hiring of executive officer of the commission; permits receipt of money from any source.

 

LA Rev. Stat. 40; 31.41-48 - (LBDMN Enabling Legislation): Establishes a system to collect, analyze, and disseminate data regarding birth defects and to provide information to families regarding services available and prevention programs.

 

LA Rev Stat 46:447.1 (Reproductive Health Program Enabling Legislation)- Establishment of a family planning program to provide family planning education and contraceptives for public assistance recipients.

 

LA Rev Stat 46:973 - Allows the Office of Public Health to provide a special program of preventive, health, and medical care and health education services for adolescents that concentrates on adolescent pregnancy and pregnancy prevention.

 

LA Rev Stat 46:974 - Asks that OPH maintain a statewide toll-free number to advise pregnant women on available resources.

 

LA Rev Stat 40:1061.17 - Pertains to Abortion Alternatives/Woman’s Right To Know.

 

LA Rev Stat 13:5713 - Instructs the coroner to report SIDS to the Director of the Parish Health Unit within 48 hours.

 

LA Rev Stat 40:1086.1-4 - Defines Shaken Baby Syndrome and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Prevention major public health priorities for the state and authorizes LDH to conduct public awareness activities.

 

LA Rev Stat 17:407.40 - Assigns OPH to provide information and resources to the state Department of Education for such training and for other areas of training required for employees of early learning centers in promoting the health, safety, and welfare of children.

 

LA Rev Stat 17:407.23 - Louisiana Early Childhood Education Act (Act 3, 2012) - Establishes the Early Childhood Care and Education Network; Board of Ed must coordinate with the DCFS and LDH to align the standards for the licensing of child care facilities, including the requirements for participation in the Louisiana Quality Start Child Care Rating System, with the standards established for early childhood education programs.

 

LA Rev Stat 40:1075.4 - Emergency Medical Services for Children Program (1995) -

Establishes an Emergency Medical Services for Children Program and shall include a full-time coordinator, education programs for EMS personnel, guidelines for referring, guidelines, inter-hospital transfer system for critically ill or injured children and pediatric rehabilitation units. 

 

LA Rev Stat 40:1086.12 - Neonatal opiate withdrawal syndrome pilot project

Charges LDH with creating a pilot demonstration project to optimize outcomes associated with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS).

 

Early Childhood Care and Education Commission (Act 693) -

Establishes the Early Childhood Care and Education Commission charged with establishing pilot programs in high-performing community early childhood care and education networks that will further efforts to improve kindergarten readiness.

 

Perinatal Mental Health Policy (Act 188, 2022)

Requires hospitals and birthing centers to provide pregnant women and their family members information about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Directs the Louisiana Department of Health to make this information available to hospitals and birthing centers, as well as on their website. Requires healthcare providers providing postnatal care to screen for symptoms of postpartum depression and other related disorders (if that is believed to be in the best interest of the patient). Directs the Louisiana Department of Health to work with Medicaid to identify providers who specialize in pregnancy-related or postpartum depression as well as postpartum substance use disorders. Directs the Louisiana Department of Health and Medicaid to develop network adequacy standards for treatment of pregnant and postpartum women with depression or related mental health disorders or substance use disorders.

 

Breastfeeding Policies for High School Students (Act 472, 2022)

Requires each governing authority of a public high school to adopt policies regarding attendance, breastfeeding, and child care for students who are pregnant or parenting.

 

Dispensing of Contraceptives (Act 708, 2022)

Provides relative to the dispensing of up to a six month supply of contraceptives.

 

Medicaid and Insurance coverage for human breast milk (Acts 488 and 489, 2022)

Act 488 provides for Medicaid coverage of prescription breast milk; Act 489 provides for insurance coverage of prescription breast milk.

 

Establishes an assistance program for pregnant women and parents (Act 561, 2022)

Establishes a continuum of care program for certain pregnant women and parents of young children and to create a statewide telecare support network.

 

Provides for information regarding emergency contraception (Act 513, 2022)

Provides for procedures for victims of sexually-oriented criminal offenses and requires all licensed hospitals and healthcare providers to provide victims information regarding emergency contraception and following negative pregnancy test, to provide emergency contraception at victim’s request.

 

Establishes the Office of Women’s Health (Act 676, 2022)

Creates the office on women's health within the Louisiana Department of Health.

 

Provides for genetic testing of infants (Act 501, 2022)

Provides for Medicaid and commercial health insurance coverage of genetic testing for critically ill infants with no diagnosis.

 

Provides relative to opioid treatment programs for pregnant women (Act 309, 2022)

Provides relative to opioid treatment programs for pregnant women and requires certain treatment facilities to provide onsite access to at least one form of FDA-approved opioid agonist treatment.

 

Sickle Cell Registry (Act 647, 2022)

Establishes a state sickle cell disease registry.

 

Study on establishment of “baby bonds” (HCR 94, 2022)

Requests a study regarding the potential establishment of a program to provide children born to low- to moderate-income parents with a trust that, at maturity, can be used for postsecondary education, the purchase of a home, or formation of a business.

 

Modernizes statute for Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (Act 128, 2022)

Provides relative to the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf.

 

Provides relative to adolescents giving birth (SR 87, 2022)

Requests the Louisiana Department of Health  to enact policies relative to children giving birth.

 

Establishes the Study Commission on Maternal Health and Wellbeing (SR 131, 2022)

Establishes the Study Commission on Maternal Health and Wellbeing to make recommendations on connecting pregnant women and new mothers, particularly in rural and underserved areas, with resources for the health and wellbeing of the mother and child.

 

Human Trafficking Awareness (SR 179, 2022)

To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health, Department of Transportation and Development, and Department of Revenue, office of alcohol and tobacco, to post human trafficking awareness posters.

 

Louisiana Administrative Code (Regulations):
LAC Title 48, Public Health-General, Book 2 of 2; Part V; Subpart 17. Children’s Special Health Services Chapters 49 - 59

 

LAC Title 48, Public Health-General, Book 2 of 2; Part V; Subpart 55. Birth Defects Surveillance System Chapter 161-163

 

LAC Title 48, Public Health-General, Book 2 of 2; Part V; Subpart 19. Genetic Diseases Services Chapter 63 Neonatal Screening; 6303.

 

LAC Title 48, Public Health-General, Book 2 of 2; Part V; Subpart 18. Disability Prevention Program Chapter 70. Lead Poisoning Prevention Program; 7001-7009

 

LAC Title 48, Public Health-General, Book 2 of 2; Part I; Subpart 13. Family Planning Chapter 35-37
 

LAC Title 51, Sanitary Code, Part XXI Day Care Centers and Residential Facilities, Chapter 3, Child Day Care Centers, #9
 

DOE Child Care Development Fund Bulletin 137 – Early Learning Site Licensing Regulations requires three hours of training by a child health care consultant on infectious diseases, health, safety, and/or food service preparation.

 

LAC Title 5, Chapter 65,6501, 6503 (April, 1987)- Authorizes LDH to operate Regional Genetic Clinics

 

LAC Title 5, Chapter 69, 6901, 6903 (Aug, 2014)- LDH establishes Genetic Diseases Program Advisory Committee

 

Louisiana Children’s Code:
LA Child Code 609. Mandatory and permitted reporting