HLS 23RS-729 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 107
BY REPRESENTATIVE FREEMAN
HEALTH/CHILDREN: Urges and requests the Louisiana Department of Health to study
the feasibility of funding a remote monitoring program for technology-dependent
children
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health to study the feasibility of funding
3 a remote monitoring program for technology-dependent children who are
4 tracheostomy patients.
5 WHEREAS, over the last ten years, there has been a three hundred to five hundred
6percent increase in the use of tracheostomy for home care in children, as estimated by
7experts at Children's Hospital of New Orleans; and
8 WHEREAS, pediatric tracheostomy patients at home face an estimated one percent
9per year risk of suffering a sudden death from a tracheostomy complication; and
10 WHEREAS, there is a twenty percent overall mortality rate related to the global
11health condition of patients affected by tracheostomy; and
12 WHEREAS, although home care for tracheostomy can be supported by home health
13nursing, trained pediatric tracheostomy care nurses are exceptionally difficult to find
14regardless of insurance status; and
15 WHEREAS, a remote home monitoring program that allows for continuous
16monitoring of patients at home could serve as a means to maintain the health and safety of
17technology-dependent children at home without the need of a home health nurse; and
18 WHEREAS, the use of such technology could significantly reduce the number of
19hospitalizations of patients with tracheostomies; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 23RS-729 ENGROSSED
HR NO. 107
1 WHEREAS, the average cost of hospitalization of such patients can cost thousands
2of dollars per day; and
3 WHEREAS, the estimated cost of remote monitoring is two hundred eighty-five
4dollars per day; and
5 WHEREAS, such technology is not only significantly cheaper than hospitalization
6but also allows patients to remain at home in the care of loved ones outside of a hospital
7setting, while also freeing up needed hospital beds for other patients.
8 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
9Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health
10to study the feasibility of funding a remote monitoring program for technology-dependent
11children for tracheostomy.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department shall develop findings and
13recommendations concerning this topic and shall submit these findings and
14recommendations in the form of a written report to the House Committee on Health and
15Welfare no later than thirty days prior to the convening of the 2024 Regular Session.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
17secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health.
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)]
HR 107 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Freeman
Requests the La. Dept. of Health to study the feasibility of funding a remote monitoring
program for technology-dependent children who are tracheostomy patients.
Requests the that the La. Dept. of Health develop findings and recommendations and submit
such findings and recommendations in a written report.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Make technical corrections.
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