2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 170
BY SENATOR DORSEY-COLOMB
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to review Title 46
and Title 48 of the Louisiana Administrative Code, relative to professional and
occupational standards and to public health, respectively, in order to ensure that these
titles are consistent with applicable federal rules with respect to dietitian
nutritionists.
WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) is empowered to
promulgate rules and regulations relative to public health pursuant to the Administrative
Procedure Act; and
WHEREAS, DHH publishes these promulgated rules through the Department of
Administration, office of the state register; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a
final rule on May 7, 2014, granting ordering privileges to registered dietitian nutritionists,
with respect to patient diets, independent of other medical professionals; and
WHEREAS, these privileges include ordering patient diets and may include the
ability to order laboratory tests to monitor the effectiveness of the diets; and
WHEREAS, the new rule by CMS states that hospitals shall have the authority to
determine who within their facility will be privileged to order diets independently; and
WHEREAS, sections of Title 46 and Title 48 of the Louisiana Administrative Code
deal with the nutritional needs of patients and menu preparations which are appropriate for
such patients and groups of patients; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana is a national leader in chronic diseases related to poor
nutrition such as diabetes and obesity; and
WHEREAS, the change of rules and regulations in Louisiana to mirror the federal
rule could improve the efficiency and efficacy of nutritional care in Louisiana with the added
incentive of bringing cost savings to the Louisiana Medicaid program.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request that the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals review
Title 46 and Title 48 of the Louisiana Administrative Code, relative to professional and
occupational standards and to public health, respectively, in order to ensure that these titles
are consistent with applicable federal rules with respect to dietitian nutritionists.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health and Hospitals shall
submit its amendments to rules and regulations to the Senate Committee on Health and
Welfare and the House of Representatives Committee on Health and Welfare as required
under the Administrative Procedure Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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