SLS 14RS-2003 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 62
BY SENATOR MILLS
MEDICAID. Requests the Department of Health and Hospitals to seek a Medicaid state plan
amendment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to include as a Medicaid
service the Tdap vaccine to pregnant women and to provide a cost analysis to the legislature
for providing this Medicaid service.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to seek a Medicaid state plan2
amendment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to include as a3
Medicaid service the Tdap vaccine to pregnant women and to provide a cost analysis4
to the legislature for providing this Medicaid service.5
WHEREAS, pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly6
contagious bacterial disease that is potentially fatal to infants; and7
WHEREAS, although many childhood diseases have been nearly eliminated by8
vaccinations, incidences of pertussis among adults, adolescents, and young infants have9
increased sharply over the past decade; and10
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2013 Provisional11
Pertussis Surveillance Report found one hundred sixty-six cases of pertussis in Louisiana12
that could have been prevented through the administration of a Tdap vaccine; and13
WHEREAS, while most infants are given immunizations against pertussis, they do14
not begin the series of vaccinations until they are two months of age and are probably not15
protected until they have had at least three doses; and16
WHEREAS, unvaccinated adults and adolescents can contract and spread this serious17
disease without realizing it, as the symptoms in an adult may resemble a common cold or18 SCR NO. 62
SLS 14RS-2003 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 2
bronchitis; and1
WHEREAS, research has shown that up to eighty percent of babies catch pertussis2
from family members, usually a parent; and3
WHEREAS, the spread of pertussis may be limited by increasing the vaccination rate4
among pregnant women, parents, and family members; and5
WHEREAS, Act No. 159 of the 2013 Regular Session requires a hospital to offer the6
Tdap vaccination to each parent of a newborn infant prior to discharge from the hospital; and7
WHEREAS, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends8
pregnant women receive the Tdap vaccination during pregnancy.9
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby10
urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to seek a Medicaid state plan11
amendment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to include as a Medicaid12
service the Tdap vaccine for pregnant women and to provide a cost analysis to the legislature13
for providing this Medicaid service.14
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the15
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.16
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Christopher D. Adams.
DIGEST
Mills SCR No. 62
Requests the Department of Health and Hospitals to seek a Medicaid state plan amendment
from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to include as a Medicaid service the
Tdap vaccine to pregnant women and to provide a cost analysis to the legislature for
providing this Medicaid service.