Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 111
BY SENATOR HEITMEIER
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To direct 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 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.
WHEREAS, the health of its citizens is a paramount concern of the state of
Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, poor health outcomes have an adverse impact on virtually every aspect
of life in this state; and
WHEREAS, the United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings uses twenty-
three measures within five subject areas to rank the states; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative the Department of Health and Hospitals collaborate with
all parties to improve the overall health and health outcomes of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana has been ranked either forty-ninth or fiftieth since the United
Health Foundation began to issue the rankings in 1990; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana was ranked forty-ninth for 2011 as it was for 2010; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana has made remarkable strides with the high use of early pre-
natal care and per capita public health funding; and
WHEREAS, the state is lacking in the measures that invariably lead to poor health,
including low high school graduation rates, high percentages of children in poverty, high
rates of preventable hospitalizations, and a high prevalence of smoking; and
WHEREAS, improving on such measures as smoking, obesity, infant mortality, and
premature death will raise the state's ranking; and SCR NO. 111 ENROLLED
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, if the rates of smoking, obesity, infant mortality, and premature death
were reduced to the national average of the United Health Foundation's 2011 America's
Health Rankings, Louisiana's overall ranking would be forty-first; and
WHEREAS, if the gap between the state rate and the national average for these four
measures were cut in half in 2011, Louisiana's rank would be forty-seventh; and
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana has an opportunity to improve its America's
Health Rankings and ensure better health outcomes for its people.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
direct 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
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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report be submitted to the Senate and House
committees on health and welfare on or before February 1, 2013.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
office of the secretary, Department of Health and Hospitals.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES