HLS 21RS-2633 REENGROSSED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 105
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUPLESSIS
MENTAL HEALTH: Establishes the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Task Force for the
purposes of advancing education and treatment and improving services relating to
maternal mental heath
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To establish a task force dedicated to the education, treatment, and overall improvement of
3 maternal mental healthcare within the state.
4 WHEREAS, women in their childbearing years account for the largest group of
5Americans with depression; and
6 WHEREAS, the mental health of women before, during, and after childbirth is an
7issue of great concern to those affected, their families, and their physicians; and
8 WHEREAS, the challenges associated with maternal mental health constitute a
9leading cause of maternal mortality; and
10 WHEREAS, according to the Louisiana Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review
112017 Report that was released in September 2020, sixty-seven percent of all mental health
12conditions among women were pregnancy-associated; and
13 WHEREAS, the review committee deemed one hundred percent of the pregnancy-
14associated deaths it assessed to be preventable; and
15 WHEREAS, maternal depression and other mood disorders are serious and
16debilitating, but are treatable conditions; and
17 WHEREAS, children born to mothers with untreated depression are more likely to
18have developmental problems and higher utilization of medical and mental healthcare over
19their lifetimes; and
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HCR NO. 105
1 WHEREAS, it is critical that women who are suffering from depression or another
2maternal mental health disorder be diagnosed and treated; and
3 WHEREAS, addressing maternal mental health concerns has been identified as a
4critical need by the Louisiana Department of Health, the Louisiana Commission on Perinatal
5Care and the Prevention of Infant Mortality, the Louisiana Pregnancy-Associated Mortality
6Review, the Louisiana Pritzker Children's Initiative, and various other commissions,
7councils, and advisory boards in Louisiana; and
8 WHEREAS, the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Advisory Council, which was
9charged with assessing equity and community engagement in state initiatives addressing
10maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, recommended that the state "ensure
11adequate access to high quality behavioral health services for pregnant and postpartum
12women, from early identification through screening and linkage to care and treatment for
13maternal mental health needs and substance abuse disorders"; and
14 WHEREAS, the March of Dimes' Prematurity Collaborative Birth Equity Consensus
15Statement for Mothers and Babies recognizes that the pursuit of explanations for the racial
16disparity in birth and maternal outcomes must employ social science disciplines and methods
17to best examine social and economic disadvantages as well as community and population
18assets for maternal mental and physical health; and
19 WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of this state to establish a task force to identify
20and assess the functions and activities of existing state efforts and service systems focused
21on the mental health of women before, during, and after childbirth.
22 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
23establish the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Task Force.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall have all of the following
25functions:
26 (1)To study, review, and identify current individual, provider, and system
27 barriers to screening, diagnosis, and treatment, with a particular focus on
28 exploration of barriers for black and brown women and those who are
29 privately insured or receive care through Medicaid.
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1 (2)To study, review, and facilitate current evidence-based research and
2 emerging treatment options that are scalable in public and private health
3 settings, particularly for black and brown women.
4 (3)To identify provider population needs and patient needs in order to improve
5 diagnosis and treatment.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Task
7Force shall be composed of the following members:
8 (1)A representative from the Louisiana Department of Health.
9 (2)A representative from the office of behavioral health.
10 (3)A representative from the office of public health.
11 (4)A representative from the Department of Children and Family Services.
12 (5)A representative from the Louisiana Mental Health Perinatal Partnership.
13 (6)A representative from the National Birth Equity Collaborative.
14 (7)A representative from the Louisiana Chapter of the March of Dimes.
15 (8)A representative from the Human Services Interagency Council.
16 (9)A representative from the Louisiana Chapter of the National Alliance on
17 Mental Illness.
18 (10)A representative from Saul's Light.
19 (11)A representative from the Birthmark Doulas.
20 (12)A representative from the Louisiana Psychiatric Association.
21 (13)A representative from the Covenant House New Orleans.
22 (14)A representative from the GRACE Program at Woman's Hospital.
23 (15)A representative from the Bridge Center for Hope.
24 (16)A representative from District VII of the American Congress of Obstetricians
25 and Gynecologists.
26 (17)A representative from the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of
27 Pediatrics.
28 (18)A representative from the Louisiana Hospital Association.
29 (19)A representative from the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies.
30 (20)A representative from the Louisiana State Nurses Association.
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HCR NO. 105
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a chairperson, licensed in or affiliated with the
2medical profession, specifically maternal treatment, be elected at the first meeting.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Department of Health shall be
4responsible for facilitating the members of the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Task
5Force.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Task
7Force shall utilize the information gathered from the data that it collects and submit its
8findings in the form of a report to the Legislature of Louisiana no later than 30 days prior
9to the convening of the 2022 Regular Session.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
11medical director of the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Perinatal Partnership; to the
12secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health; to the assistant secretary of the office of
13behavioral health; to the assistant secretary of the office of public health; to the secretary of
14the Department of Children and Family Services; to the founder and president of the
15National Birth Equity Collaborative; to the president of the Louisiana Chapter of the March
16of Dimes; to the coordinator of the Human Services Interagency Council; to the board
17president of the Louisiana Chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness; to the executive
18director of Saul's Light; to the director of the Birthmark Doulas; to the president of the
19Louisiana Psychiatric Association; to the executive director of Covenant House New
20Orleans; to the director of the GRACE Program at Woman's Hospital; to the executive
21director of the Bridge Center for Hope; to the District VII director of the American Congress
22of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; to the president of the Louisiana Chapter of the
23American Academy of Pediatrics; to the president of the Louisiana Hospital Association; to
24the president and chief executive officer of the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies; and
25to the executive director of the Louisiana State Nurses Association.
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HCR NO. 105
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)]
HCR 105 Reengrossed 2021 Regular Session Duplessis
Establishes the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Task Force and provides for its
composition, duties, and functions.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Add a representative from the La. State Nurses Association to the task force.
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