GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 818 2018 Regular Session Hilferty
PUBLIC HEALTH: Creates the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Advisory Council
DIGEST
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 the March of Dimes, Louisiana Chapter.
(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. Hospital 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.
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Prepared by Christine Arbo Peck. 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)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to
the reengrossed bill
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Prepared by Christine Arbo Peck. 1. Replaces one representative of an organization seeking to address infant
mortality, birth equity, and infant wellness with one representative from the
March of Dimes, Louisiana Chapter.
2. Replaces one representative of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association
with one representative of the Louisiana Hospital Association.
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Prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.