An official website of the State of Louisiana.
Official Louisiana State Websites use .la.gov A .la.gov website belongs to an official
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock () or https:// means you've safely
"This summer, the National Weather Service has issued a record number of excessive heat warnings for Louisiana," said Gov. Edwards. "The Louisiana Department of Health reports that the state has already exceeded the average number of annual heat-related emergency room visits. Additionally, drought conditions and a significant drop in the Mississippi River's water level have added stress on water supplies and agriculture.
The Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing has submitted Final Rules to the Office of the State Register for publication in the August 20, 2023 edition of the Louisiana Register in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, R.S. 49:950 et seq.
Amends the provisions governing the licensing of nursing facilities to reflect the department’s option to revoke or deny renewal of the license of a facility that has received a letter of rejection of its emergency preparedness plan and to amend the provisions governing visitation by clergy, immediate family members and other designated persons during a declared public health emergency, in compliance with Acts 3 and 367 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Amends the provisions governing the Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program in order to update the qualifications for certified nurse aides to allow certification of individuals who have successfully completed a semester of a registered or practical nursing program, which includes a course on foundational nursing skills, to take an approved nurse aide competency evaluation examination and to update the registration requirements for the Louisiana Certified Nurse Aide Registry, in compliance with Act 80 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Continues the provisions of the August 1, 2023 Emergency Rule, which adopted provisions in the Professional Services Program governing reimbursement for services provided by licensed midwives and certified nurse midwives and amended the provisions governing free-standing birthing centers to increase the reimbursement rate for services rendered by these providers, in compliance with Act 207 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Amends the provisions governing the licensing standards of intermediate care facilities for persons with developmental disabilities to update the requirements for visitation by close family members of a resident during a declared public health emergency, in compliance with Act 367 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Amends the provisions governing the licensing of hospitals in order to permit competent adult victims of sexually oriented criminal offenses to receive written documentation resulting from their forensic medical exam in the possession of the hospital in compliance with Act 540 of the 2022 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, and to require hospitals to adopt and implement policies for a surgical smoke plume evacuation plan for surgical procedures using heat-producing equipment and to update the requirements for visitation by members of the clergy during a declared public health emergency, in compliance with Acts 35 and 367 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Amends the provisions governing the licensing of hospice providers to adopt guidelines for visitation during a declared public health emergency by clergy, immediate family members and other designated persons, in compliance with Act 367 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature and to revise the definition of geographic area to specify any parish within a 50 mile radius of the hospice premises, in compliance with House Resolution 152 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Amends the provisions governing disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments to increase the reimbursement for DSH eligible services provided by hospitals through a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) in order to align the payment rate for OBH-approved DSH days to the Medicaid inpatient psychiatric per diem rate on file for free-standing psychiatric hospitals.
Amends the provisions governing the licensing of crisis receiving centers in order to update the definitions to appropriately reflect the providers who may execute a coroner’s or physician’s emergency certificate, in compliance with Act 363 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Amends the provisions governing the licensing of ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) in order to require ASCs to adopt and implement policies for a surgical smoke plume evacuation plan for surgical procedures using heat-producing equipment, in compliance with Act 35 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Amends the provisions governing the licensing of adult residential care providers in order to update the requirements for visitation by members of the clergy, immediate family members, and other designated persons during a declared public health emergency, in compliance with Act 367 if the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.