This text of Louisiana § 46:447.2 (Pregnant women and infants; access to health care; expansion of Medicaid) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
§447.2. Pregnant women and infants; access to health care; expansion of Medicaid
eligibility
A. The legislature hereby finds and declares that:
(1)Early, high quality, comprehensive prenatal care is the most effective means for
reducing the state's rate of infant mortality. Despite this finding, the legislature has
determined that universal access to prenatal care has not been achieved in Louisiana.
(2)It is the intent of the legislature that certain pregnant women and infants,
regardless of their economic status, geographic location, or ethnic background, have access
to appropriate healthcare services.
B. The department shall amend the Medicaid state plan to provide for:
(1)Eligibility for Medicaid services for all pregnant women with an income of up
to one hundred eighty-five percent
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§447.2. Pregnant women and infants; access to health care; expansion of Medicaid
eligibility
A. The legislature hereby finds and declares that:
(1) Early, high quality, comprehensive prenatal care is the most effective means for
reducing the state's rate of infant mortality. Despite this finding, the legislature has
determined that universal access to prenatal care has not been achieved in Louisiana.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature that certain pregnant women and infants,
regardless of their economic status, geographic location, or ethnic background, have access
to appropriate healthcare services.
B. The department shall amend the Medicaid state plan to provide for:
(1) Eligibility for Medicaid services for all pregnant women with an income of up
to one hundred eighty-five percent of the applicable federal poverty guideline as published
in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
(2) Eligibility criteria for Medicaid services for pregnant adolescents based on the
income of the pregnant adolescent and not on the income of her parents.
(3) A program of care coordination for high-risk pregnant women. The care
coordination program shall include the following components:
(a) Manageable case loads, outcome evaluations, and home visitations.
(b) Risk assessments to identify priority needs and areas of the state.
(c) A full range of family services.
(d) Maximum utilization of federal matching funds through block grants and
entitlement programs.
(e) The use of skilled professional and trained volunteers as part of community-based
care coordination teams.
(f) Utilization of the private sector's resources or the establishment of public and
private partnerships.
C. The department shall establish procedures to simplify the Medicaid eligibility
process. At a minimum, these procedures shall include:
(1) A simplified application form on which applicants may provide all of the
information necessary to determine eligibility for Medicaid.
(2) Provisions for receipt and initial processing of applications for medical assistance
at locations which are frequented by persons likely to be eligible for services.
D. The department shall promulgate regulations requiring that all public health
programs which render prenatal, postpartum, or infant healthcare services shall provide at
a minimum for the following:
(1) Expanded or flex-time hours of operation so that healthcare services are available
to pregnant women and children during evening and weekend hours.
(2) An initial appointment within two weeks of request and minimal waiting time
to receive services after entering a healthcare facility.
(3) Procedures to assure that pregnant women are receiving and continue to receive
prenatal services.
E. The department shall develop and implement:
(1) A program to enhance the courteous and professional delivery of health services
through staff training and effective personnel recruitment and retention policies. This
program shall include staff development programs to improve cultural sensitivity and
interpersonal skills as well as training in providing specialized assistance to women who
have low literacy skills or for whom English is a second language.
(2) A program to develop innovative recruitment techniques to enroll private
providers in the Medicaid program.
F. The provisions of this Section shall not be implemented unless the department can
finance the expansion through self-generated revenues.