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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 111
BY SENATOR HEITMEIER
HEALTH/HOSPITALS DEPT. Directs the Department of Health and Hospitals to submit
a report to the legislature that addresses the issue of raising Louisiana's health ranking as
determined by the United Health Foundation's "America's Health Rankings".
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON 1
To direct the Department of Health and Hospitals to consult with the appropriate state2
entities and healthcare stakeholders based on the United Health Foundation's3
America's Health Rankings twenty-three measures and to prepare and submit a report4
to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare that addresses raising5
Louisiana's health ranking as determined by the United Health Foundation's6
America's Health Rankings to thirty-fifth within the next ten years.7
WHEREAS, the health of its citizens is a paramount concern of the state of8
Louisiana; and 9
WHEREAS, poor health outcomes have an adverse impact on virtually every aspect10
of life in this state; and11
WHEREAS, the United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings uses twenty-12
three measures within five subject areas to rank the states; and13
WHEREAS, it is imperative the Department of Health and Hospitals collaborate with14
all parties to improve the overall health and health outcomes of its citizens; and15
WHEREAS, Louisiana has been ranked either forty-ninth or fiftieth since the United16
Health Foundation began to issue the rankings in 1990; and17
WHEREAS, Louisiana was ranked forty-ninth for 2011 as it was for 2010; and18 SCR NO. 111
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WHEREAS, Louisiana has made remarkable strides with the high use of early pre-1
natal care and per capita public health funding; and2
WHEREAS, the state is lacking in the measures that invariably lead to poor health,3
including low high school graduation rates, high percentages of children in poverty, high4
rates of preventable hospitalizations, and a high prevalence of smoking; and5
WHEREAS, improving on such measures as smoking, obesity, infant mortality, and6
premature death will raise the state's ranking; and7
WHEREAS, if the rates of smoking, obesity, infant mortality, and premature death8
were reduced to the national average of the United Health Foundation's 2011 America's9
Health Rankings, Louisiana's overall ranking would be forty-first; and10
WHEREAS, if the gap between the state rate and the national average for these four11
measures were cut in half in 2011, Louisiana's rank would be forty-seventh; and12
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana has an opportunity to improve its America's13
Health Rankings and ensure better health outcomes for its people.14
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby15
direct the Department of Health and Hospitals to consult with the appropriate state entities16
and healthcare stakeholders based on the United Health Foundation's America's Health17
Rankings twenty-three measures and to prepare and submit a report to the Senate and House18
committees on health and welfare that addresses raising Louisiana's health ranking as19
determined by the United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings to thirty-fifth20
within the next ten years.21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report be submitted to the Senate and House22
committees on health and welfare on or before February 1, 2013.23
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the24
office of the secretary, Department of Health and Hospitals.25
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Christopher D. Adams.
DIGEST
Heitmeier SCR No.
Directs the Department of Health and Hospitals to consult with the appropriate state entities
and healthcare stakeholders based on the United Health Foundation's America's Health SCR NO. 111
SLS 12RS-2856 ORIGINAL
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Rankings twenty-three measures and to prepare and submit a report to the Senate and House
committees on health and welfare that addresses raising Louisiana's health ranking as
determined by the United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings to thirty-fifth
within the next ten years.
Provides that Department of Health and Hospitals submit the report to the Senate and House
committees on health and welfare on or before February 1, 2013.