Barrow (HB 451) Act No. 159
Existing law requires each hospital in the state to provide to parents of newborns educational
information on pertussis (whooping cough) and the availability of a vaccine to protect against
contracting the disease.
New law adds to existing law a requirement that each hospital in the state offer the pertussis
vaccine to each parent of a newborn. New law provides that if the person to whom the
vaccine is offered declines to be vaccinated, the hospital shall provide information on the
vaccine to the person in accordance with existing law.
New law stipulates that a hospital shall not be required to offer the pertussis vaccine to any
person who has already received the vaccine or for whom such vaccination is medically
inappropriate.
New law provides that nothing in new law shall be construed to require any of the following:
(1)Administration of the pertussis vaccine, contingent upon its availability, by a hospital
if the hospital cannot be compensated for administration of the vaccine at the normal
or prevailing rate that is at least equal to the product cost plus any administrative
costs for delivering the immunization over and above the reimbursement level for
inpatient care.
(2)Provision of the pertussis vaccine to any person or health care provider by DHH.
(3)Financing of pertussis vaccine administration by DHH through any program or
service of the department other than one that may presently cover such vaccination.
(4)Obligation for payment by a person or his insurer for pertussis vaccination.
Effective upon signature of the governor (June 7, 2013).
(Amends R.S. 40:2022)