SLS 13RS-2447 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2013
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 108
BY SENATOR HEITMEIER
HEALTH/HOSPITALS DEPT. Directs the Department of Health and Hospitals to submit
a request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to extend Louisiana's Section
1115a demonstration waiver for the Greater New Orleans Community Health Connection
and authorizes the governor and the secretary of the department to identify a source or
sources for matching of non-federal funds required under the extended waiver.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To authorize and direct the Department of Health and Hospitals to submit a request to the2
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to extend Louisiana's Section 1115a3
demonstration waiver (Project No. 11-W-00252/6) for the Greater New Orleans4
Community Health Connection and to authorize and direct the governor and the5
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals to identify a source or sources6
for the matching of non-federal funds required under the extended waiver.7
WHEREAS, a Section 1115a demonstration waiver (Project No. 11-W-00252/6) for8
the Greater New Orleans Community Health Connection (GNOCHC waiver) was created9
in 2010 to continue the expansion of access to primary care services, including mental health10
care, without regard to a patient's ability to pay, and to develop a medical home model of11
care, all of which had begun under the post-Katrina Primary Care Access and Stabilization12
Grant program; and13
WHEREAS, clinics funded by the GNOCHC waiver have provided accessible,14
affordable primary care to approximately five hundred thousand residents in the parishes of15
Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines; and16
WHEREAS, the GNOCHC waiver has substantially improved access to health care,17
the quality of health care, and the health of the patients and families in Orleans, Jefferson,18 SCR NO. 108
SLS 13RS-2447 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 3
St. Bernard, and Plaquemines Parishes; and1
WHEREAS, the GNOCHC waiver is more cost effective by prioritizing primary care2
rather than expensive hospital care, through emphasis on primary care medical homes; and3
WHEREAS, as a result of the GNOCHC waiver, the greater New Orleans region now4
boasts a quality, affordable network of neighborhood based health centers offering primary5
care and mental health to everyone irrespective of their ability to pay; and 6
WHEREAS, an external evaluation in 2010 by the Commonwealth Fund reported7
that although the health centers funded by the GNOCHC waiver cared for people that were8
on average lower income and suffering from a higher burden of disease than the average9
American, the evaluation reported better access, satisfaction with health care, and less10
indebtedness because of health care related expenses; and11
WHEREAS, in 2010 the health center network funded by the GNOCHC waiver12
received an award for quality by the National Committee on Quality Assurance; and 13
WHEREAS, financial responsibility assessments by the United States Department14
of Health and Human Services, office of inspector general, have demonstrated a responsible15
use of funding made available by the GNOCHC waiver; and16
WHEREAS, absent an extension, the GNOCHC waiver will expire on December 31,17
2013, leaving approximately sixty thousand individuals currently enrolled in GNOCHC18
without coverage and access to comprehensive primary care and mental health services; and19
WHEREAS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has requested that the20
Department of Health and Hospitals submit a request to extend the GNOCHC waiver no21
later than June 30, 2013; and22
WHEREAS, extension of the GNOCHC waiver would continue the expansion of23
access to quality primary care, mental health, and other services through a collaborative24
public-private partnership approach that promotes team-based and innovative health care25
services.26
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby27
authorize and direct the Department of Health and Hospitals to submit a request to the28
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to extend the Section 1115a Medicaid29
demonstration waiver (Project No. 11-W-00252/6) for the Greater New Orleans Community30 SCR NO. 108
SLS 13RS-2447 ORIGINAL
Page 3 of 3
Health Connection for a three year period commencing January 1, 2014, and does hereby1
authorize and direct the governor and the secretary of the Department of Health and2
Hospitals to identify a source or sources for the matching of non-federal funds required3
under the extended GNOCHC waiver.4
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the5
governor and the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.6
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. 108
Authorize and direct the Department of Health and Hospitals to submit a request to the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to extend Louisiana's Section 1115a
demonstration waiver (Project No. 11-W-00252/6) for the Greater New Orleans Community
Health Connection and authorizes and directs the governor and the secretary of the
Department of Health and Hospitals to identify a source or sources for the matching of
non-federal funds required under the extended waiver.