Louisiana Senate Bill SCSR2

Louisiana 2016 Regular Session

Caption

Requests the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and the House Health and Welfare Committee to convene for a hearing to study the SR 29 of 2014 work group report on strategies to decrease primary care utilization in emergency rooms in hospitals across Louisiana.

Impact

The bill signifies a proactive approach from the Louisiana Legislature to address the ongoing issues with emergency care utilization, which has been a significant concern. By requesting a comprehensive study and update on previously agreed-upon strategies, SCSR2 seeks to ensure that these measures are actively being considered and that their effectiveness can be evaluated. It aims to pinpoint any obstacles to the strategies' implementation and to allow stakeholders in the health care sector to collaborate on solutions, ultimately reducing the burden on emergency services.

Summary

SCSR2 is a concurrent study request that focuses on the need to address the overutilization of emergency departments (ED) by primary care patients across Louisiana. The bill calls for a joint committee from both the Senate and House Committees on Health and Welfare to convene and review the strategies developed from Senate Resolution No. 29 of the 2014 Regular Session. These strategies were previously outlined to reduce the unnecessary use of emergency services and manage Medicaid expenditures more effectively. The bill's intent is to examine the progress made since the initial strategies were proposed and assess the implementation of these recommendations.

Sentiment

The sentiment regarding SCSR2 appears to be generally positive as it advocates for a collaborative approach in evaluating health care strategies. It reflects the acknowledgment by legislators of a critical issue within the public healthcare system – the misuse of emergency departments – and the need for tools to mitigate related costs. However, there remains an underlying urgency tied to the state's financial constraints, indicating that while partnerships and strategies may be positively perceived, tangible outcomes must be delivered effectively and promptly.

Contention

One notable contention surrounding this bill is tied to the ongoing challenges regarding implementation of past strategies. While the work group that formulated the initial recommendations was optimistic about their potential effectiveness, the lack of clarity on whether these strategies have been fully executed poses questions regarding accountability and results. Stakeholders in the health community may express varying degrees of concern regarding the pace and completeness of these efforts, indicating a need for a thorough review and actionable recommendations stemming from this study request.