2016 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 191
BY SENATOR BARROW
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to study ways to enhance
access to health care services in health professional shortage areas.
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Health and Human Services designates
geographic areas with a critical shortage of primary medical care, dental services, mental
health providers, or any combination of these as health professional shortage areas; and
WHEREAS, geographic and access barriers are also considered in designating a
location as a health professional shortage area; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana has one of the most extensive health professional shortage
area designations of all states, with such designation being attributed to both rural and urban
areas; and
WHEREAS, access to health care services is an important issue to study, especially
as the state expands Medicaid and more individuals will be seeking access to preventive and
primary care; and
WHEREAS, the office of public health of the Department of Health and Hospitals
is the appropriate governmental entity to study ways to enhance access to health care
services in Louisiana's health professional shortage areas.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request the office of public health of the Department of Health and
Hospitals to coordinate a study effort to identify ways to enhance access to health care
services in the health professional shortage areas of this state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study shall include an assessment of the
impact of Medicaid expansion in Louisiana on overall access to health services as well as
means by which to deliver health care to the newly eligible Medicaid population, currently
estimated to be approximately three hundred thousand persons, in the most efficient and
effective manner.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting the study, the office of public
health may collaborate with organizations with expertise in health care workforce
development including but not limited to the following:
(1) The Louisiana Workforce Commission.
(2) The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans.
(3) The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport.
(4) The Southern University School of Nursing.
(5) The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.
(6) The Louisiana State Board of Nursing.
(7) The Louisiana Primary Care Association.
(8) The Louisiana Public Health Institute.
(9) The Louisiana Hospital Association.
(10) The Rural Hospital Coalition.
(11) The Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners.
(12) The Louisiana State Medical Society.
(13) The Community Provider Association.
(14) The Louisiana Nursing Home Association.
(15) AARP Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department shall submit a report of its
findings and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare no later than
thirty days prior to the convening of the 2017 Regular Session of the Legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, the executive director of Louisiana
Workforce Commission, the chancellor of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences
Center at New Orleans, the chancellor of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences
Center at Shreveport, the dean of the Southern University School of Nursing, the executive
director of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, the executive director of the
Louisiana State Board of Nursing, the executive director of the Louisiana Primary Care
Association, the chief executive officer of the Louisiana Public Health Institute, the president
of the Louisiana Hospital Association, the executive director of the Rural Hospital Coalition,
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the president of Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners, the chief executive officer of
the Louisiana State Medical Society, the executive director of the Community Provider
Association, the executive director of the Louisiana Nursing Home Association, and the state
director of AARP Louisiana.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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