DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 818 Original 2018 Regular Session Hilferty
Abstract: Establishes and provides for the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Advisory Council.
Proposed law creates the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Advisory Council, referred to hereafter as
the "council", within the La. Department of Health (LDH).
Proposed law provides that the council shall address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health
outcomes and incorporate a community-engaged, equity-focused lens into current programs and
campaigns which seek to prevent maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and shall
promote safe and equitable care for every mother and every birth in this state.
Proposed law provides that the council shall be composed of the following 17 members:
(1)The secretary of LDH or his designee.
(2)The assistant secretary of the office of public health or his designee.
(3)The executive director of the office on women's policy or his designee.
(4)One member appointed of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
House.
(5)One member of the Senate appointed by the Senate president.
(6)Two representatives of community-based organizations that work to prevent maternal
mortality appointed by the governor.
(7)One representative of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists appointed
by the governor.
(8)One representative of an organization seeking to address infant mortality, birth equity, and
infant wellness in La. appointed by the governor.
(9)One representative of an organization providing doula services or community-based support
services for women giving birth in La. appointed by the governor.
(10)One representative of the Commission on Perinatal Care and Prevention of Infant Mortality appointed by the secretary of LDH.
(11)One representative of the La. State Coroners Association appointed by the Senate president.
(12)One representative of a community-based organization providing substance abuse counseling
appointed by the Senate president.
(13)One representative of the La. District Attorneys Association appointed by the speaker of the
House.
(14)One representative of a community-based organization advocating against domestic violence
appointed by the speaker of the House.
(15)Two at-large representatives appointed by the governor.
Proposed law requires the secretary of LDH to cause the initial convening of the council to occur on
or before October 1, 2018.
Proposed law stipulates that members of the council shall serve without compensation.
Proposed law requires the council to hold quarterly public meetings unless otherwise provided by
vote of the council or by order of the chairperson.
Proposed law requires that LDH provide staff support to the council.
Proposed law requires the council to perform all of the following tasks:
(1)Evaluate functions and activities of existing groups focused on maternal mortality in order
to collaborate with and engage stakeholders.
(2)Support and contextualize reporting of maternal outcomes data disaggregated by race and
ethnicity where possible.
(3)Incorporate an ongoing community advisory process into existing state committees and
collaboratives that generate data, recommendations, and proposals for health system changes
relevant to maternal mortality and morbidity, prioritizing representation from organizations
led by members of affected, historically marginalized communities.
(4)Establish guidelines for specific data components relevant to birth equity to be included in
state and agency reports on maternal mortality and morbidity, including a plan for timely
dissemination of reports on maternal mortality, morbidity, and related disparities to
legislators, healthcare organizations, and other key stakeholders.
(5)Make recommendations on further policy options to ensure that the state establishes ongoing
public health monitoring and activated response to eliminate cases of and disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity.
(6)Issue a report of its findings and recommendations on or before February 1, 2020, to the
Commission on Perinatal Care and Prevention of Infant Mortality, the governor, the speaker
of the House of Representatives, and the president of the Senate.
(7)Issue research findings, reports, and recommendations for legislation at the discretion of the
council.
Proposed law provides that notwithstanding any provision of present law to the contrary, the council
may request that LDH produce or provide data to inform the work of the council. Provides that all
such data shall be confidential and shall not be available for subpoena, and that such information
shall not be disclosed, discoverable, or compelled to be produced in any civil, criminal,
administrative, or other proceeding, or be deemed admissible as evidence in any tribunal or court.
Exempts such information from present law relative to public records, R.S. 44:1 et seq.
Proposed law stipulates that nothing therein shall prohibit the publishing of statistical compilations
relating to maternal mortality or morbidity which do not identify individual cases or individual
physicians, hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare providers.
Proposed law terminates on March 31, 2021.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 44:4.1(B)(26); Adds R.S. 36:259(I)(1) and R.S. 40:2018.5)