ENROLLED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 197
BY REPRESENTATIVES PRICE, BARROW, BILLIOT, BROWN, BURFORD,
CARMODY, COX, EDWARDS, GAINES, HALL, HOFFMANN, HUNTER,
MORENO, PIERRE, PYLANT, THIERRY, AND WILLMOTT
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to establish a study committee
on family caregiving and long-term supports and services, and to request the study
committee to report recommendations for legislative and administrative actions
regarding support for family caregivers and other long-term care providers to the
House Committee on Health and Welfare.
WHEREAS, the number of people in Louisiana who are age eighty-five and older
and most likely to require assistance from a caregiver as they age is projected to surpass one
hundred twenty-six thousand by the year 2030; and
WHEREAS, the majority of older adults who are in need of assistance with activities
of daily living prefer to remain in their own homes and communities as they age; and
WHEREAS, providing services and supports to these older adults in their homes and
communities is generally less expensive than nursing home care; and
WHEREAS, among the population of older adults living in the community who
receive personal assistance, statistics indicate that nearly three-fourths of these citizens rely
exclusively on unpaid caregivers for the assistance they need; and
WHEREAS, to successfully accommodate the surging population of older adults who
have significant needs for long-term services and supports, this state must implement
policies to encourage and support families in assisting their aging relatives and institute best
practices for recruiting and retaining a qualified, responsive in-home care workforce.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Health and
Hospitals to establish a study committee on family caregiving and long-term supports and
services within the department and staffed by the department.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall be composed of the
following members:
(1) One member representing AARP Louisiana.
(2) One member representing the Southern University Department of Social Work.
(3) One member representing the Louisiana Councils on Aging.
(4) One member representing the governor's office of elderly affairs.
(5) One member representing the Advocacy Center.
(6) One member appointed by the president of the Senate.
(7) One member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
(8) Two members appointed by the secretary of the Department of Health and
Hospitals, one of whom shall be employed with the office for citizens with developmental
disabilities and one of whom shall be employed with the office of aging and adult services.
(9) One member representing the Homecare Association of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appointing entities shall submit the names
of study committee members to the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals,
referred to hereafter as "the department", on or before October 1, 2015.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the committee shall serve
without per diem or any other form of compensation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of the department shall call the first
meeting of the study committee on or before November 1, 2015.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that at its first meeting, the study committee shall
elect from among its members a chairman and any other officers it deems necessary.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall review options for
decreasing the waiting list for waiver services presently offered by the department and
investigate any efficiencies in the provision of long-term care and supports as well as
families assisting their aging relatives to remain in their homes and communities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall explore the impact of
the reduction of reimbursement rates for home- and community-based services and the
difficulties in providing these essential services for an increasing population.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall explore and research
the numerous policies that may result in duplicative, excessive, and conflicting responses
from providers in the process of administering home- and community-based services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall include in its inquiry
decisions by the department regarding providers of in-home services and any trends
indicated by these decisions that might negatively impact these providers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall explore strategies that
would result in a rate of pay to providers of these services that is more reflective of the
administrative requirements of the service providers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall examine the numbers
of providers of home- and community-based services who have left the industry over the last
decade and determine how to ensure that a sufficient number of providers are available to
provide these vital services to Louisiana's aging population.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall submit a written
report of its findings, including any recommendations for legislation or administrative
action, to the House Committee on Health and Welfare on or before March 1, 2016, at which
time legislative authority for the study committee shall terminate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, the state director of AARP Louisiana,
the chair of the Southern University Department of Social Work, the executive director of
the Louisiana Councils on Aging, the executive director of the governor's office of elderly
affairs, the executive director of the Homecare Association of Louisiana, the executive
director of the Advocacy Center, and the president of the Senate.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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