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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 41
BY SENATOR BROOME
NUTRITION. Requests DHH to examine the benefits of routine nutritional screening and
therapeutic nutrition treatment for those who are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition,
as well as examine the benefits of such actions as part of the standard for evidenced-based
hospital care.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to examine the benefits of2
routine nutritional screening and therapeutic nutrition treatment for those who are3
malnourished or at risk for malnutrition, as well as examine the benefits of nutrition4
screening and therapeutic nutrition treatment as part of the standard for5
evidenced-based hospital care, to support an increased emphasis on nutrition through6
the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, as well as for Medicare7
beneficiaries, to improve their disease management and health outcomes, and to8
express encouragement that preventive and wellness services, such as counseling for9
obesity and chronic disease management, are part of the Essential Health Benefits10
package included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.11
WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) has12
established policy promoting the importance of quality nutrition for all Americans in order13
to maintain healthy, active, independent lifestyles; and14
WHEREAS, the NBCSL adopted policy supporting increased access to quality15
nutrition and support for infants and children, as passed by the United States Congress in16
Resolution HHS-11-19; and17
WHEREAS, leading health and nutrition experts agree that nutrition status is a direct18 SCR NO. 41
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measure of patient health and that good nutrition and good patient health can keep people1
healthy and out of institutionalized health care facilities, thus reducing healthcare costs; and2
WHEREAS, inadequate or unbalanced nutrition, known as malnutrition, is not3
routinely viewed as a medical concern in this nation, and that malnutrition is particularly4
prevalent in vulnerable populations, such as older adults, hospitalized patients, or minority5
populations that statistically shoulder the highest incidences of the most severe chronic6
illnesses such as diabetes, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease; and7
WHEREAS, illness, injury, and malnutrition can result in the loss of lean body mass,8
leading to complications that impact good patient health outcomes, including recovery from9
surgery, illness, or disease; the elderly lose lean body mass more quickly and to a greater10
extent than younger adults and weight assessment (body weight and body mass index) can11
overlook accurate indicators of lean body mass; and12
WHEREAS, the American Nursing Association defines therapeutic nutrition as the13
administration of food and fluids to support the metabolic processes of a patient who is14
malnourished or at high risk of becoming malnourished; and15
WHEREAS, access to therapeutic nutrition is critical in restoring lean body mass16
such that it resolves malnutrition challenges and, in turn, improves clinical outcomes,17
reduces health care costs, and can keep people and our communities healthy; and18
WHEREAS, despite the recognized link between good nutrition and good health,19
nutritional screening and therapeutic nutrition treatment have not been incorporated as20
routine medical treatments across the spectrum of health care.21
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana urges and22
requests that the Department of Health and Hospitals examine the benefits of routine23
nutritional screening and therapeutic nutrition treatment for those who are malnourished or24
at risk for malnutrition, as well as examine the benefits of nutrition screening and therapeutic25
nutrition treatment as part of the standard for evidenced-based hospital care.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana supports an27
increased emphasis on nutrition through the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, as28
well as for Medicare beneficiaries, to improve their disease management and health29
outcomes.30 SCR NO. 41
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana is encouraged that1
preventive and wellness services, such as counseling for obesity and chronic disease2
management, are part of the Essential Health Benefits package included in the Patient3
Protection and Affordable Care Act.4
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the5
president of the United States, the vice president of the United States, the secretary of the6
United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of Representatives, to each7
member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress, and to the secretary of8
the Department of Health and Hospitals.9
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
Broome SCR No. 41
Urges DHH to examine the benefits of routine nutritional screening and therapeutic nutrition
treatment for those who are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition, as well as examine the
benefits of nutrition screening and therapeutic nutrition treatment as part of the standard for
evidenced-based hospital care.
Supports an increased emphasis on nutrition through the reauthorization of the Older
Americans Act, as well as for Medicare beneficiaries, to improve their disease management
and health outcomes.
Expresses encouragement that preventive and wellness services, such as counseling for
obesity and chronic disease management, are part of the Essential Health Benefits package
included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.