ENROLLED
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 44
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUSTIN MILLER
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To create the Health Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force as a subcommittee of the
Statewide Health Equity Consortium within the Louisiana Department of Health, to
provide for the composition and duties of the task force, and to require the task force
to report findings and recommendations to the legislative committees on health and
welfare.
WHEREAS, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, overall health outcomes for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and
American Indians in this country are far poorer than for white people; and
WHEREAS, vast health disparities persist in this country, particularly in rural areas,
and many have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, rural areas comprise roughly eighty percent of Louisiana's total
geographic area; and
WHEREAS, nearly twenty-six percent of our state's population, totaling more than
one million two hundred thousand Louisianans, live in rural communities; and
WHEREAS, sixty-three of Louisiana's sixty-four parishes are classified as health
professional shortage areas according to the standards of the federal Health Resources and
Services Administration; and
WHEREAS, approximately ninety-eight percent of this state's entire population lives
in a federally designated health professional shortage area; and
WHEREAS, the vast majority of Louisiana's rural communities are medically
underserved by all established measures, yet programs to address the healthcare needs of this
population remain underfunded and few are guided by local stakeholders or locally
conducted needs assessments; and
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WHEREAS, in consideration of the findings set forth in this Resolution, the
legislature hereby declares that improving health outcomes in rural communities is a critical
public health priority of this state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
create the Health Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the
following members:
(1) The president of the board of directors of the Louisiana State Nurses Association
or his designee.
(2) One member who possesses postgraduate degrees in both nursing and business
administration appointed by the director of clinical practice, health policy, and advocacy of
the Louisiana State Nurses Association.
(3) The executive director of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing or his designee.
(4) The executive director of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners or his
designee.
(5) The dean of the Southern University School of Nursing or his designee.
(6) The president of the board of directors of the Louisiana Association of Nurse
Practitioners or his designee.
(7) The chief executive officer of the Louisiana State Medical Society or his
designee.
(8) The chief operating officer of the Rural Hospital Coalition, Inc. or his designee.
(9) The president of the Louisiana Hospital Association or his designee.
(10) The executive director of the Louisiana Rural Health Association or his
designee.
(11) The executive director of the Louisiana Primary Care Association or his
designee.
(12) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee.
(13) The president of the board of directors of the Louisiana Managed Medicaid
Association or his designee.
(14) The state director of AARP Louisiana or his designee.
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(15) A certified nurse midwife appointed by the executive director of the Louisiana
State Board of Nursing.
(16) The president of the board of directors of the Louisiana Academy of Family
Physicians or his designee.
(17) One primary care physician from each of the six Louisiana congressional
districts appointed by the president of the board of directors of the Louisiana Academy of
Family Physicians.
(18) The president of the Louisiana Council of Administrators in Nursing Education
or his designee.
(19) The president of the Black Nurses Association of Acadiana or his designee.
(20) The president of the Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the duties of the task force shall include, without
limitation, all of the following:
(1) Identifying the key drivers of health disparities in rural areas.
(2) Considering social determinants of health in developing recommendations for
delivering high-quality health care in rural areas.
(3) Studying practicable solutions for reducing healthcare provider shortages in rural
communities of Louisiana.
(4) Collaborating with health professional licensing boards of this state to draft
proposals for legislation that will foster greater access to care for rural residents.
(5) Developing proposals for healthcare workforce training initiatives which
promote diversity in health professions.
(6) Studying the impact of access to broadband internet and other technologies that
facilitate wider deployment of telehealth and telemedicine services and thereby improve
access to care in rural areas.
(7) Serving as a resource for parish governments to build partnerships for
community outreach to address social determinants of health in rural communities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be a subcommittee of the
Statewide Health Equity Consortium within the Louisiana Department of Health.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Statewide Health Equity Consortium shall
convene the first meeting of the task force no later than August 15, 2022.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, at its first meeting, the task force shall select
from among its members a chairperson and any other officers it deems necessary for the
functioning of the group.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may adopt rules of procedure and
any other policies as may be necessary to facilitate the work of the group.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that on or before March 1, 2023, the task force shall
submit to the House Committee on Health and Welfare, the Senate Committee on Health and
Welfare, and the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library a report of its findings and
recommendations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that legislative authority for the task force shall
terminate on July 1, 2023.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
president of the board of directors and the director of clinical practice, health policy, and
advocacy of the Louisiana State Nurses Association, the executive director of the Louisiana
State Board of Nursing, the executive director of the Louisiana State Board of Medical
Examiners, the dean of the Southern University School of Nursing, the president of the board
of directors of the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners, the chief executive officer
of the Louisiana State Medical Society, the chief operating officer of the Rural Hospital
Coalition, Inc., the president of the Louisiana Hospital Association, the executive director
of the Louisiana Rural Health Association, the executive director of the Louisiana Primary
Care Association, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, the president of the
board of directors of the Louisiana Managed Medicaid Association, the state director of
AARP Louisiana, the president of the board of directors of the Louisiana Academy of
Family Physicians, the president of the Louisiana Council of Administrators in Nursing
Education, the president of the Black Nurses Association of Acadiana, and the president of
the Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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