HLS 23RS-436 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 100
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUSTIN MILLER
HEALTH CARE: Continues the Health Inequities and Disparities in Rural Areas Task
Force
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To continue the Health Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force created in the 2022 Regular
3 Session of the Legislature of Louisiana pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution No.
4 44 to identify and study key health issues affecting rural areas and develop strategies
5 to improve health outcomes for rural and under-served communities and to submit
6 a written report to the House and Senate committees on health and welfare by
7 February 1, 2024.
8 WHEREAS, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and
9Prevention, overall health outcomes for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and
10American Indians in this country are far poorer than for white people; and
11 WHEREAS, vast health disparities persist in this country, particularly in rural areas,
12and many have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
13 WHEREAS, rural areas comprise roughly eighty percent of Louisiana's total
14geographic area; and
15 WHEREAS, nearly twenty-six percent of our state's population, totaling more than
16one million two hundred thousand Louisianans, live in rural communities; and
17 WHEREAS, sixty-three of Louisiana's sixty-four parishes are classified as health
18professional shortage areas according to the standards of the federal Health Resources and
19Services Administration; and
20 WHEREAS, approximately ninety-eight percent of this state's entire population lives
21in a federally designated health professional shortage area; and
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HCR NO. 100
1 WHEREAS, the vast majority of Louisiana's rural communities are medically under-
2served by all established measures, yet programs to address the healthcare needs of this
3population remain underfunded and few are guided by local stakeholders or locally
4conducted needs assessments; and
5 WHEREAS, in consideration of the findings set forth in this Resolution, the
6legislature hereby declares that improving health outcomes in rural communities is a critical
7public health priority of this state.
8 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
9continue the Health Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the membership and duties of the task force shall
11continue as provided in House Concurrent Resolution No. 44 of the 2022 Regular Session
12of the Legislature of Louisiana.
13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall continue to be a
14subcommittee of the Statewide Health Equity Consortium within the Louisiana Department
15of Health.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Statewide Health Equity Consortium shall
17reconvene the meeting of the task force no later than August 15, 2023.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members shall be given reasonable notice
19of the meetings of the Health Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any member who fails to attend two consecutive
21meetings shall subject to removal by a majority vote of the task force.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED if a member of the task force is removed, the
23chairperson may nominate a new member, who will become a member by majority vote of
24the current members of the task force.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may adopt rules of procedure and
26any other policies as may be necessary to facilitate the work of the group.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that on or before February 1, 2024, the task force
28shall submit to the House Committee on Health and Welfare, the Senate Committee on
29Health and Welfare, and the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library a report of its
30findings and recommendations.
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HCR NO. 100
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
2president of the board of directors and the director of clinical practice, health policy, and
3advocacy of the Louisiana State Nurses Association, the executive director of the Louisiana
4State Board of Nursing, the executive director of the Louisiana State Board of Medical
5Examiners, the dean of the Southern University School of Nursing, the president of the board
6of directors of the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners, the chief executive officer
7of the Louisiana State Medical Society, the chief operating officer of the Rural Hospital
8Coalition, Inc., the president of the Louisiana Hospital Association, the executive director
9of the Louisiana Rural Health Association, the executive director of the Louisiana Primary
10Care Association, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, the president of the
11board of directors of the Louisiana Managed Medicaid Association, the state director of
12AARP Louisiana, the president of the board of directors of the Louisiana Academy of
13Family Physicians, the president of the Louisiana Council of Administrators in Nursing
14Education, the president of the Black Nurses Association of Acadiana, and the president of
15the Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association.
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 100 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Dustin Miller
Continues the 21-member Health Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force as a subcommittee
of the Statewide Health Equity Consortium within the La. Department of Health and
provides for the duties of the task force.
Requires the task force to report its findings and recommendations to the legislative
committees on health and welfare on or before Feb. 1, 2024.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Change the due date for the report of the task force from March 1, 2024 to Feb.
1, 2024.
3. Make changes to continue the Health Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force
created in the 2022 R.S. pursuant to HCR 44.
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