2022 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 77
BY SENATOR FRED MILLS
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health to study and make
recommendations on best practices for coordinating healthcare services for patients
with cancer.
WHEREAS, cancer is a complex disease, requiring multiple doctor appointments,
medications, and treatments as well as support and follow-up care; and
WHEREAS, according to a study by the Institute of Medicine, patients with cancer
often receive poorly coordinated care in multiple settings from many providers; and
WHEREAS, coordination of care is critical in order for all of the healthcare needs
of a patient to be met including ensuring that all chronic conditions are under control during
cancer treatment; and
WHEREAS, a lack of care coordination increases the risk for poor outcomes, limits
the patient's quality of life, and can lead to higher healthcare costs; and
WHEREAS, care coordination includes communication and the sharing of
knowledge between healthcare providers and assistance with transitions of care; and
WHEREAS, one way to promote care coordination is the use of an electronic health
record which allows healthcare providers treating people in a variety of settings to exchange
and continuously update a patient's clinical data and then present that information in a format
that other providers can access easily; and
WHEREAS, many existing electronic health record systems currently use
incompatible means of acquiring, processing, storing, and communicating data; and
WHEREAS, some healthcare facilities may not provide patients effective access to
their own data; and
WHEREAS, this lack of interoperability may ultimately result in the patient
undergoing duplicate tests or procedures which is burdensome on the patient and
unnecessarily increases healthcare costs; and
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WHEREAS, closing communication gaps between healthcare providers can lead to
more effective care coordination, with increasing awareness of how each healthcare
provider's actions impact other provider's actions; and
WHEREAS, innovative ways to improve care coordination for patients with cancer
are needed to achieve better healthcare outcomes, improve patient experience of care, and
lower healthcare costs.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health to study and make
recommendations on best practices for coordinating healthcare services for patients with
cancer.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED in completing the study, the department shall focus
on the following areas:
(1) The use of electronic health records to facilitate a patient's access to his own
records.
(2) The need for interoperability between electronic health record systems to limit
duplication of healthcare services and decrease healthcare costs.
(3) Efforts to facilitate unhindered communication and encourage cooperation
between healthcare providers as a key element of care coordination.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED in completing the study, the department shall seek
input from interested stakeholders, including but not limited to healthcare providers, health
insurance issuers, and cancer advocacy groups.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no later than February 1, 2023, the department
shall prepare and submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Senate
Committee on Health and Welfare.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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