SLS 17RS-2904 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 178
BY SENATOR BISHOP
HEALTH/HOSPITALS DEPT. Requests the Louisiana Department of Health to facilitate
implementation of mobile integrated emergency response programs and nonemergency
community paramedicine programs.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health to facilitate the implementation of
3 mobile integrated emergency response programs and nonemergency community
4 paramedicine programs for the state of Louisiana and to create and administer a pilot
5 program in a limited geographic area for this purpose.
6 WHEREAS, it is well established that emergency care is one of the costliest forms
7 of healthcare delivery, and overutilization of emergency services is one of the major cost
8 drivers in our healthcare system; and
9 WHEREAS, several states have instituted mobile integrated emergency response
10 programs and nonemergency community paramedicine programs which use evidence-based
11 practices to improve emergency response times, facilitate post-hospital discharge care, deter
12 preventable hospital readmission, and provide for other benefits that address the problem of
13 unnecessary overutilization of emergency departments and the associated costs; and
14 WHEREAS, mobile integrated emergency response programs and nonemergency
15 community paramedicine programs can be cost savers and improve patient outcomes; and
16 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Health can rely upon the frameworks
17 already established in other states to promote and develop these programs.
18 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 178
SLS 17RS-2904 ORIGINAL
1 does hereby urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health to facilitate the
2 implementation of mobile integrated emergency response programs and nonemergency
3 community paramedicine programs for the state of Louisiana.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
5 hereby urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health to collaborate with various
6 stakeholders, including but not limited to healthcare providers, managed care organizations,
7 and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to facilitate and accomplish all of the
8 following:
9 (1) Identify and overcome any impediments to the development, implementation, and
10 financing of mobile integrated emergency response programs and nonemergency community
11 paramedicine programs in the state of Louisiana.
12 (2) Create the standards for, implement, and administer a pilot program, in a manner
13 consistent with existing scope of practice laws, under the auspices of the Louisiana
14 Department of Health, in collaboration with Medicaid managed care organizations.
15 (3) Identify and obtain sources of financial support for the implementation of the
16 pilot program, provide participation incentives to Medicaid managed care organizations as
17 mutually agreed upon by the organizations and the Louisiana Department of Health, and
18 ensure that the participation program is actuarially and financially sound and beneficial to
19 the Medicaid managed care organizations.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the implementation of the pilot program shall
21 be contingent on available and appropriate funding and reimbursement outside of the current
22 funding allocated for emergency medical transportation.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Department of Health shall report
24 on the results of the pilot program, including but not limited to health outcomes and the
25 potential for shared savings, to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare and shall
26 provide recommendations as necessary to facilitate the implementation of these programs.
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SLS 17RS-2904 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SR 178 Original 2017 Regular Session Bishop
Requests La. Department of Health (LDH) to facilitate the implementation of mobile
integrated emergency response programs and nonemergency community paramedicine
programs for the state of Louisiana.
Requests department collaborate with various stakeholders to facilitate and accomplish all
of the following:
(1) Identify and overcome any impediments to the development, implementation, and
financing of mobile integrated emergency response programs and nonemergency
community paramedicine programs in the state.
(2) Create the standards for, implement, and administer a pilot program, in a manner
consistent with existing scope of practice laws, under the auspices of the LDH, in
collaboration with Medicaid managed care organizations.
(3) Identify and obtain sources of financial support for the implementation of the pilot
program, provide participation incentives to Medicaid managed care organizations
as mutually agreed upon by the organizations and the LDH, and ensure that the
participation program is actuarially and financially sound and beneficial to the
Medicaid managed care organizations.
Provides that the implementation of the pilot program shall be contingent on available and
appropriate funding and reimbursement outside of the current funding allocated for
emergency medical transportation.
LDH is to report the results of the pilot program to the Senate Committee on Health and
Welfare and provide recommendations as necessary to facilitate the implementation of these
programs throughout the state.
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