HLS 15RS-850 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 260
BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED WILLIAMS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
HEALTH/SICKLE CELL ANEM: Establishes the Sickle Cell Patient Navigator Program
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 40:1299.4.3 and 2018.3(D)(5), relative to health services for persons with
3 sickle cell disease; to establish a sickle cell patient navigator program and provide
4 for functions of the program; to provide for administration of the program by the
5 Department of Health and Hospitals under the direction of the Louisiana Sickle Cell
6 Commission; to provide for program implementation contingent upon appropriation
7 of funds; and to provide for related matters.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 40:1299.4.3 and 2018.3(D)(5) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §1299.4.3. Sickle cell patient navigator program
11 A. The legislature hereby finds and declares the following:
12 (1) A large percentage of persons suffering from sickle cell disease in this
13 state are not in specialty care, even though the health consequences of going without
14 such care may be fatal.
15 (2) Insufficient access to specialty care is a major barrier to overall health
16 care for persons suffering from sickle cell disease.
17 (3) The purpose of this Section is to provide for a program to increase
18 statewide access to the types of specialty care that are critical to the health and well-
19 being of sickle cell patients.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-850 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 260
1 B. The Sickle Cell Patient Navigator Program, referred to hereafter in this
2 Section as "the program", is hereby established. The program shall operate in
3 accordance with the provisions of this Section.
4 C. The functions of the program shall include, without limitation, all of the
5 following:
6 (1) Training of patient navigators to serve as outreach coordinators,
7 coordinators of family educational sessions, and patient case managers.
8 (2) Establishing and strengthening a continuum of care for each sickle cell
9 patient served by the program and for the families of those patients.
10 (3) Identifying and contacting sickle cell patients, conducting home visits
11 with patients and their family members, and coordinating patient care.
12 (4) Facilitating collaboration among healthcare providers that serve sickle
13 cell patients.
14 (5) Delivering public health education on sickle cell disease and treatment.
15 D. The Department of Health and Hospitals shall administer the program
16 under the direction of the Louisiana Sickle Cell Commission placed within the
17 department by the provisions of R.S. 36:259(NN).
18 E. Implementation of the provisions of this Section shall be subject to
19 appropriation of funds by the legislature for operation of the program.
20 * * *
21 §2018.3. Louisiana Sickle Cell Commission
22 * * *
23 D. The functions of the commission shall be to:
24 * * *
25 (5) Direct the Sickle Cell Patient Navigator Program established by the
26 provisions of R.S. 40:1299.4.3.
27 Section 2. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby authorized to redesignate the
28number of any Section of statute enacted by this Act in a manner that comports with the
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-850 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 260
1technical recodification provisions of House Concurrent Resolution No. ____ of this 2015
2Regular Session of the Legislature.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 260 Original 2015 Regular Session Alfred Williams
Abstract: Establishes the Sickle Cell Patient Navigator Program to be administered by the
Dept. of Health and Hospitals under the direction of the La. Sickle Cell Commission.
Proposed law establishes the Sickle Cell Patient Navigator Program, referred to hereafter as
"the program". Provides that the functions of the program shall include, without limitation,
all of the following:
(1)Training of patient navigators to serve as outreach coordinators, coordinators of
family educational sessions, and patient case managers.
(2)Establishing and strengthening a continuum of care for each sickle cell patient served
by the program and for the families of those patients.
(3)Identifying and contacting sickle cell patients, conducting home visits with patients
and their family members, and coordinating patient care.
(4)Facilitating collaboration among healthcare providers that serve sickle cell patients.
(5)Delivering public health education on sickle cell disease and treatment.
Proposed law provides that the Dept. of Health and Hospitals shall administer the program
under the direction of the La. Sickle Cell Commission. Provides that implementation of
proposed law shall be subject to appropriation of funds by the legislature for operation of the
program.
Present law provides for the functions of the La. Sickle Cell Commission. Proposed law
retains present law and adds thereto direction of the Sickle Cell Patient Navigator Program
established by proposed law as a function of the commission.
(Adds R.S. 40:1299.4.3 and 2018.3(D)(5))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.