ENROLLED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 105
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUPLESSIS
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To establish a task force dedicated to the education, treatment, and overall improvement of
maternal mental healthcare within the state.
WHEREAS, women in their childbearing years account for the largest group of
Americans with depression; and
WHEREAS, the mental health of women before, during, and after childbirth is an
issue of great concern to those affected, their families, and their physicians; and
WHEREAS, the challenges associated with maternal mental health constitute a
leading cause of maternal mortality; and
WHEREAS, according to the Louisiana Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review
2017 Report that was released in September 2020, sixty-seven percent of all mental health
conditions among women were pregnancy-associated; and
WHEREAS, the review committee deemed one hundred percent of the pregnancy-
associated deaths it assessed to be preventable; and
WHEREAS, maternal depression and other mood disorders are serious and
debilitating, but are treatable conditions; and
WHEREAS, children born to mothers with untreated depression are more likely to
have developmental problems and higher utilization of medical and mental healthcare over
their lifetimes; and
WHEREAS, it is critical that women who are suffering from depression or another
maternal mental health disorder be diagnosed and treated; and
WHEREAS, addressing maternal mental health concerns has been identified as a
critical need by the Louisiana Department of Health, the Louisiana Commission on Perinatal
Care and the Prevention of Infant Mortality, the Louisiana Pregnancy-Associated Mortality
Review, the Louisiana Pritzker Children's Initiative, and various other commissions,
councils, and advisory boards in Louisiana; and
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WHEREAS, the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Advisory Council, which was
charged with assessing equity and community engagement in state initiatives addressing
maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, recommended that the state "ensure
adequate access to high quality behavioral health services for pregnant and postpartum
women, from early identification through screening and linkage to care and treatment for
maternal mental health needs and substance abuse disorders"; and
WHEREAS, the March of Dimes' Prematurity Collaborative Birth Equity Consensus
Statement for Mothers and Babies recognizes that the pursuit of explanations for the racial
disparity in birth and maternal outcomes must employ social science disciplines and methods
to best examine social and economic disadvantages as well as community and population
assets for maternal mental and physical health; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of this state to establish a task force to identify
and assess the functions and activities of existing state efforts and service systems focused
on the mental health of women before, during, and after childbirth.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
establish the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Task Force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall have all of the following
functions:
(1)To study, review, and identify current individual, provider, and system
barriers to screening, diagnosis, and treatment, with a particular focus on
exploration of barriers for black and brown women and those who are
privately insured or receive care through Medicaid.
(2)To study, review, and facilitate current evidence-based research and
emerging treatment options that are scalable in public and private health
settings, particularly for black and brown women.
(3)To identify provider population needs and patient needs in order to improve
diagnosis and treatment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Task
Force shall be composed of the following members:
(1)A representative from the Louisiana Department of Health.
(2)A representative from the office of behavioral health.
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(3)A representative from the office of public health.
(4)A representative from the Department of Children and Family Services.
(5)A representative from the Louisiana Mental Health Perinatal Partnership.
(6)A representative from the National Birth Equity Collaborative.
(7)A representative from the Louisiana Chapter of the March of Dimes.
(8)A representative from the Human Services Interagency Council.
(9)A representative from the Louisiana Chapter of the National Alliance on
Mental Illness.
(10)A representative from Saul's Light.
(11)A representative from the Birthmark Doulas.
(12)A representative from the Louisiana Psychiatric Association.
(13)A representative from the Covenant House New Orleans.
(14)A representative from the GRACE Program at Woman's Hospital.
(15)A representative from the Bridge Center for Hope.
(16)A representative from District VII of the American Congress of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists.
(17)A representative from the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of
Pediatrics.
(18)A representative from the Louisiana Hospital Association.
(19)A representative from the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies.
(20)A representative from the Louisiana State Nurses Association.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a chairperson, licensed in or affiliated with the
medical profession, specifically maternal treatment, be elected at the first meeting.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Department of Health shall be
responsible for facilitating the members of the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Task
Force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Task
Force shall utilize the information gathered from the data that it collects and submit its
findings in the form of a report to the Legislature of Louisiana no later than 30 days prior
to the convening of the 2022 Regular Session.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
medical director of the Louisiana Maternal Mental Health Perinatal Partnership; to the
secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health; to the assistant secretary of the office of
behavioral health; to the assistant secretary of the office of public health; to the secretary of
the Department of Children and Family Services; to the founder and president of the
National Birth Equity Collaborative; to the president of the Louisiana Chapter of the March
of Dimes; to the coordinator of the Human Services Interagency Council; to the board
president of the Louisiana Chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness; to the executive
director of Saul's Light; to the director of the Birthmark Doulas; to the president of the
Louisiana Psychiatric Association; to the executive director of Covenant House New
Orleans; to the director of the GRACE Program at Woman's Hospital; to the executive
director of the Bridge Center for Hope; to the District VII director of the American Congress
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; to the president of the Louisiana Chapter of the
American Academy of Pediatrics; to the president of the Louisiana Hospital Association; to
the president and chief executive officer of the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies; and
to the executive director of the Louisiana State Nurses Association.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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