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HLS 26RS-1186 REENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
ENROLLED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
944 BY REPRESENTATIVES HILFERTY, BILLINGS, BOYD, CARRIER, CHASSION, DOMANGUE, EDMONSTON, CHANCE HENRY, LAFLEUR, LYONS, SAWYER, AND SCHLEGEL HEALTH SERVICES:
944 BY REPRESENTATIVES HILFERTY, BILLINGS, BOYD, CARRIER, CHASSION, DOMANGUE, EDMONSTON, CHANCE HENRY, LAFLEUR, LYONS, SAWYER, AND SCHLEGEL AND SENATORS BARROW, BOUDREAUX, CARTER, CONNICK, FOIL, HENRY, JACKSON-ANDREWS, MIZELL, AND PRESSLY AN ACT ToenactR.S.46:2527,relativetothecreationoftheWomen'sHealthConsortiumwithinthe Louisiana Department of Health;
Creates the Louisiana Women's Health Consortium AN ACT To enact R.S.
36:259(B)(23) and R.S.
46:2527, relative to the creation of the Women's Health Consortium within the Louisiana Department of Health;
to require an annual report;
to require a report;
to provide for an effective date;
to provide for a termination date;
36:259(B)(23) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
§259.
Transfer of agencies and functions to Louisiana Department of Health * * * B.
The following agencies are placed within the Louisiana Department of Health and shall exercise and perform their powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities as otherwise provided by law:
* * * (23) Women's Health Consortium (R.S.
46:2527).
* * * Section 2.
R.S.
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§2527.
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944 §2527.
(5) One member from the Ochsner Health System specializing in the areas of women's health appointed by the president of the Ochsner Health System.
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(6) One member from Woman's Hospital of Baton Rouge appointed by the president of Woman's Hospital of Baton Rouge.
(7) OnememberfromtheLouisianaHouseofRepresentativesappointed by the speaker.
(8) One member from the Louisiana Senate appointed by the president.
(9) One member who is the secretaryof Louisiana Works or his designee.
(10) One member who is the commissioner of insurance or his designee.
(11) One member who is the assistant secretary for the office of women's health and community health or his designee.
(12) One member who is the executive director of the governor's office on women's policy or his designee.
(13) One member who is a nurse practitioner or physician assistant from a rural community appointed by the surgeon general.
(14) One member who is an epidemiologist or health statistician appointed by the surgeon general.
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944 (15) One member who is a healthcare consumer appointed by the surgeon general.
944 ENROLLED (5) OnememberfromtheLouisiana House ofRepresentativesappointedby the speaker.
(16) One member who is a functional medicine provider or integrative medicine provider appointed by the surgeon general.
(6) One member from the Louisiana Senate appointed by the president.
(7) One member who is the secretaryof Louisiana Works or his designee.
(8) One member who is the commissioner of insurance or his designee.
(9) One member who is the assistant secretary for the office of women's health and community health or his designee.
(10) One member who is the executive director of the governor's office on women's policy or his designee.
(11) One member who is a nurse practitioner or physician assistant from a rural community appointed by the surgeon general.
(12) One member who is an epidemiologist or health statistician appointed by the surgeon general.
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(13) One member who is a healthcare consumer appointed by the surgeon general.
(14) One member who is a functional medicine provider or integrative medicine provider appointed by the surgeon general.
(1) One member from the Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy appointed by the dean of the Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy.
(1) Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy.
(2) One member from the University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Pharmacy appointed by the dean of the University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Pharmacy.
(2) University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Pharmacy.
(3) OnememberfromtheBatonRougeGeneralMedicalCenterspecializing in women's health issues appointed by the president of Baton Rouge General.
(3) Baton Rouge General Medical Center.
(4) One member from Our Ladyof the Lake Health specializing in women's health appointed by the president of Our Lady of the Lake Health.
(4) Our Lady of the Lake Health.
(5) One member from the Louisiana Association of Health Plans appointed by the executive director of the Louisiana Association of Health Plans.
(5) Ochsner Health System.
(6) One member from the Louisiana Hospital Association appointed by the president or chief executive officer of the Louisiana Hospital Association.
(6) Woman's Hospital of Baton Rouge.
(7) One member of the Louisiana section of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists appointed bythe section chair of the organization.
(7) Louisiana Association of Health Plans.
(8) Louisiana Hospital Association.
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944 ENROLLED (9) The Louisiana section of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
E.(1) The consortium shall adopt rules and regulations to provide for the governance of the consortium.
E.
Such rules and regulations shall include but not be limited to procedures and grounds for the removal of anyconsortium member.
The consortium may adopt procedures and policies to provide for the governance of the consortium.
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Such procedures and policies shall include but not belimitedtoproceduresandgroundsfortheremovalofanyconsortiummemberand filling any vacancies.
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944 (2) Procedures for filling a vacancy created by the removal, resignation, or death of any consortium member shall follow those used for initial appointments.
Each consortium member shall serve without compensation except a member mayreceivereimbursementforexpensesin accordancewith the guidelines of the entity he represents.
Each consortium member shall serve without compensation except a membermayreceivereimbursement for expenses in accordancewith theguidelines of the entity he represents.
G.(1) The member from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center shall serve as the initial chairman for two years.
Anyreimbursement for expenses incurred bya member shall be the sole responsibility of the entity or agency the member represents, and nothing in this Section shall be construed to require the Louisiana Department of Health to provide reimbursement for such expenses.
(2) After the term of the initial chairman, the consortium shall elect a chairman everytwo years who shall serve for a term of two years.
G.
(3) The consortium shall elect a vice chairman and may elect other officers as deemed appropriate.
The chairman and vice chairman of the consortium shall be elected by a majority of the consortium members at its first meeting, which shall be called no later than September 1, 2026, and the members may elect other officers as the consortium deems appropriate.
I.
I.(1) Theconsortiumshallmeetatsuchtimesandplacesasdecidedbyavote of the consortium or by order of the chair.
The consortium shall hold quarterlymeetings unless decided bya vote of the consortium or byorderof the chair.
Special meetings shall be held on call of the chair or of a quorum of the members of the consortium.
Specialmeetings shall beheldoncall of the chair or of a quorum of the members of the consortium.
(2) A majority of the total membership shall constitute a quorum of the consortium and any official action taken by the consortium shall require an affirmative vote of the majority of the quorum present and voting.
A majority of the total membership shall constitute a quorum of the consortium and any official action taken by the consortium shall require an affirmative vote of the majority of the quorum present and voting.
The consortium and all meetings conducted pursuant to this Section shall complywiththeprovisionsoftheLouisianaOpenMeetingsLaw,asprovidedinR.S.
K.
42:11 et seq.
Each department participating on the consortium shall assist as needed in providing staff support for the consortium, including but not limited to the scheduling of meetings, providing public notice of scheduled meetings, and posting information about the consortium and its meeting minutes online.
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944 ENROLLED K.
Eachdepartmentparticipatingontheconsortiumshallprovidereasonable administrative assistance and staff support to the consortium, subject to the availability of personnel, appropriated funding, and existing agency resources.
(1) Develop an initiative known as the Funding Priority Program for Women's Health Initiatives to identifycurrent funding provided for women's health initiatives, prioritize funding needed to sustain and enhance current effective initiatives, and identify new initiatives to support emerging scientific research and Page 4 of 8 CODING:
(1) Develop an initiative known as the Funding Priority Program for Women's Health Initiatives to identifycurrent funding provided for women's health initiatives, recommend funding needed to sustain and enhance current effective initiatives, and identify new funding opportunities to support emerging scientific researchandinnovation.
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Theidentificationorrecommendationofanypublic-private partnership, funding opportunity, or collaborative initiative bythe consortium shall not authorize or obligate the Louisiana Department of Health or any participating agency to enter into any contract, memorandum of understanding, or financial commitment.
HLS 26RS-1186 REENGROSSED HB NO.
(2) Develop an Interagency Women's Health Agenda for recommendations to the Louisiana Department of Health.
944 innovation, as well as any additional measures that will advance women's health, including but not limited to public-private partnerships and multi-state collaborations.
(2) Develop an Interagency Women's Health Agenda for this state.
(3) Focus on those issues of health which significantlyaffect women in this state, including but not limited to perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
(3) Identify health issues which significantly affect women in this state, including but not limited to perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
(4) Serve as a resource to the state on issues affecting women's health at every stage of life.
(4) Identify systemic barriers and health gaps to standard access of quality care across women's health and possible solutions.
(5) Identify systemic barriers and health gaps to standard access of quality care across women's health and possible solutions.
(5) Evaluate and provide recommendations on:
(6) Provide recommendations on solutions and partnerships to drive innovationinthediagnosis,treatment,andpreventionofwomen-specificconditions in this state.
(a) Solutionsandpartnershipstodriveinnovationinthediagnosis,treatment, and prevention of women-specific conditions in this state.
(7) Evaluate the training in the delivery of care for medical students and physicians in this state, relating to the health issues which significantly affect women.
(b) Training in the delivery of care for medical students and physicians in this state, relating to the health issues which significantly affect women.
(8) Evaluate the impacts of health issues on the workforce.
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(9) Ensure information and data sharing between governmental and non-governmental entities relative to women's health issues.
(10) Identify a system for educating women on health issues to improve quality of life and increase longevity.
(11) Coordinate an online clearinghouse of credible online evidence-based information and resources, including the Interagency Women's Health Agenda, as identified by the consortium.
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944 M.
944 ENROLLED (c) Impacts of health issues on the workforce.
Theconsortiumshall maintainconfidentialityofanyinformationdataor records provided to it, as required by the laws relative to such records and information.
(d) Information and data sharing between governmental and non-governmental entities relative to women's health issues.
N.TheconsortiumshallsubmittotheDavidR.PoynterLegislativeResearch Library,theHouseandSenatecommitteesonhealthandwelfare,and thegovernor's office prior to December thirty-first each year an annual written report that summarizes the activities for the year prior, including the Interagency Women's Health Agenda for the state, and anyrecommendations.
(e) Asystemforeducatingwomenonhealthissuestoimprovequalityoflife and increase longevity.
(f) An online clearinghouse of credible online evidence-based information and resources, including the Interagency Women's Health Agenda, as identified by the consortium.
M.
The consortium and its members shall maintain the confidentialityof all information, data, and records received pursuant to this Section in accordance with applicable federal and state law, including but not limited to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Medicaid confidentiality requirements, and applicable state medical privacy laws.
No individually identifiable information shall be disclosed except as otherwise authorized by law.
Anydata-sharingarrangementinvolvingconfidentialinformationshallbesubjectto written agreements approved bythe applicable state agency.
N.
TheconsortiumshallsubmittotheDavidR.PoynterLegislativeResearch Library,theHouseandSenatecommittees onhealthandwelfare,andthe governor's officepriortotheconveningofthe2027RegularSessionoftheLegislatureawritten report that summarizes the activities, findings, and recommendations of the consortium,includingtheInteragencyWomen's HealthAgendaforthestate.
Tothe extent practicable, such reporting requirements may be satisfied by incorporating them into existing Louisiana Department of Health reporting mechanisms or publications to minimize duplicative administrative burdens.
(1) "Consortium" means a network of public and private sector experts and health professionals in this state specializing in women's health, as well as policy leaders necessaryto effectuate change for a comprehensive women's health agenda for the state.
(1) "Consortium" means the Woman's Health Consortium within the Louisiana Department of Health, office on women's health and community health, whichisanadvisorygroupcomprisedofpublicandprivatesectorexpertsandhealth professionals in this state specializing in women's health, as well as policy leaders Page 5 of 7 CODING:
(2) "Funding Priority Program for Women's Health Initiatives" means a scheduleofdetailedwomen'shealthinitiativesin this statewhichareprioritizedand adopted by the consortium each fiscal year which includes any current funding provided, the entity receiving the funding, and any additional funding needed in ensuing fiscal years.
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The schedule also includes any alternative means of funding identified from potential public-private partnerships and multi-state collaborations.
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(3) "InteragencyWomen'sHealthAgenda"meansayearlyassessmentbythe consortium given to the governor, legislature, and made available to the public of strengths,weaknesses,andopportunitiesonthoseissuesofhealthwhichsignificantly affect women, in particular perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
944 ENROLLED to provide recommendations on a comprehensive women's health agenda for the state.
(2) "Funding Priority Program for Women's Health Initiatives" means a detailed information schedule of women's health initiatives in this state which are recommended by the consortium which includes any current funding provided, the entityreceivingthefunding,anyadditionalfundingneededinfuturefiscalyears,and any alternative funding sources identified through potential public-private partnerships and multi-state collaborations.
(3) "Interagency Women's Health Agenda" means an assessment by the consortium given to the governor, legislature, and made available to the public of strengths,weaknesses,andopportunitiesonthoseissuesofhealthwhichsignificantly affect women, in particular perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
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P.
The duties, functions, and responsibilities imposed pursuant to this Section shall be implemented only to the extent that funding is appropriated by the legislature or otherwise made available through federal funds, grants, or other fundingsources.NothinginthisSectionshallbeconstruedtorequiretheexpenditure of funds in excess of those appropriated or otherwise available for such purposes.
Q.
Nothing in this Section shall be construed to create an obligation for the LouisianaDepartmentofHealthoranyparticipatingagencyto createnewpositions, enter into contracts, or expend additional funds absent specific legislative appropriation.
R.
Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require the Louisiana Department of Health or anyother state agencyto implement, adopt, or enforce any recommendation, policy proposal, initiative, or action of the consortium absent separate legislative approval, existing statutory or regulatory authority, the Page 6 of 7 CODING:
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944 DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.
944 ENROLLED availability of specifically appropriated funding, and the approval of the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana surgeon general.
It constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.
S.
The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.
Any recommendation, report, agenda, finding, or proposal of the consortium shall not constitute official policy or guidance of the Louisiana Department of Health unless separately adopted by the department in accordance with applicable law.
[R.S.
T.
1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 944 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Hilferty Abstract:
The consortium shall serve solely in an advisory capacity and shall not constitute a program, office, or operational division of the Louisiana Department of Health.
Creates the Women's Health Consortium.
U.
ProposedlawestablishestheWomen'sHealthConsortium(consortium)withintheLa.Dept.
TheLouisianaDepartmentofHealthshallbetherecordscustodianforthe consortium for purposes of compliance with applicable public records and open meetings laws.
of Health (LDH), office on women's health and community health.
The Louisiana Department of Health shall not be deemed the custodian of records of anyparticipating non-state entity.
Proposed law provides for the membership of the consortium.
Section2.
Proposed law provides for interested parties and stakeholders that the consortium may consult with on matters of women's health.
ThisActshall becomeeffectiveuponsignaturebytheGovernoror,ifnot signed by the Governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature by the Governor, as provided in Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana.
Proposed law provides that the consortium may engage and solicit, as necessary, input, recommendations,andguidanceon issues pertainingto theadvancementofwomen'shealth from interested parties and stakeholders.
IfvetoedbytheGovernorandsubsequentlyapprovedbytheLegislature,thisAct shall become effective on the dayfollowing such approval.
Proposed law provides that the consortium shall adopt rules and regulations to provide for the governance of the consortium.
Section 3.
Proposed law further provides that the rules and regulations include but not be limited to procedures and grounds for the removal of anyconsortium member.
The provisions of this Act shall terminate on June 30, 2027, unless extended by the legislature.
Proposed law provides that each consortium member will serve without compensation, exceptmembersmayreceivereimbursementforexpensesinaccordancewiththeguidelines of the entity they represent.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:
Proposed law requires the member from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center to serve as the initial chair for two years.
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Proposedlawfurtherrequirestheconsortium,aftertheinitialtwo-yearperiod,toelectanew chair everytwo years.
Proposed law provides that the consortium shall elect a vice chair and may elect other officers, if appropriate.
Proposed law provides that the domicile of the consortium shall be in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Proposed law further provides that the consortium mayhold meetings anywhere in the state.
Proposed law requires the consortium to hold quarterly meetings, unless decided by the members or by order of the chair.
Proposed law sets quorum requirements for official actions of the consortium.
Further requires an affirmative vote of those present and voting.
Proposed law provides the procedure for the consortium to host special meetings.
Proposed law requires each member participating in the consortium to assist as needed in providing staff support.
Proposed law provides the functions of the consortium.
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944 Proposed law requires the consortium to submit an annual written report that summarizes the activities of the consortium.
Proposed law provides the time period for when the report shall be submitted and to whom it shall be submitted.
Proposed law establishes the "FundingPriorityProgram for Women's Health Initiatives" to plan and prioritize available resources to improve health outcomes.
Proposed law provides for definitions.
(Adds R.S.
36:259(B)(23) and R.S.
40:2526) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed byHouse Committee on Health and Welfare to the original bill:
1.
Add members to the consortium and interested parties involved with the consortium.
2.
Clarify the membership of the consortium and provide for interested parties working with the consortium.
3.
Make technical corrections.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1.
Make technical changes.
2.
Clarify the methods required for the consortium to take an official action.
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