HCR 67

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 67
BY REPRESENTATIVES BUTLER, ADAMS, BACALA, BAYHAM, BEAULLIEU,
     BERAULT, BILLINGS, BOURRIAQUE, BRASS, CARRIER, WILFORD
     CARTER, CARVER, CHASSION, CHENEVERT, COATES, DESHOTEL,
     DEVILLIER, DOMANGUE, EGAN, FIRMENT, FONTENOT, FREIBERG,
     GLORIOSO, HEBERT, HILFERTY, HORTON, KNOX, JACOB LANDRY,
     MARTINEZ, MCCORMICK, MCMAKIN, MELERINE, MOORE,
     MUSCARELLO, OWEN, SAWYER, SCHAMERHORN, SCHLEGEL, SPELL,
     STAGNI, TAYLOR, VENTRELLA, VILLIO, WALTERS, WILEY, AND WYBLE
  A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To create the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Acute Care and Crisis
       Response Task Force to study, in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of
       Health, gaps in acute care access for individuals with intellectual and developmental
       disabilities and to develop recommendations for a coordinated system of care across
       healthcare settings, to be known as the "Derek's Promise Study".
       WHEREAS, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities frequently
experience complex medical conditions requiring acute care services; and
       WHEREAS, Louisiana's current Medicaid, waiver, and facility-based systems are
primarily designed for long-term supports and are not structured to adequately respond to
acute medical episodes; and
       WHEREAS, when individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
experience acute medical instability, they often face unnecessary hospitalization, delayed
discharge, or disruption of services due to limitations in community- or facility-based care
options; and
       WHEREAS, families, caregivers, and providers encounter barriers including service
caps, prior authorization delays, workforce shortages, and insufficient reimbursement for
acute-level services outside hospital settings; and
       WHEREAS, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities residing in
home- and community-based waiver programs, group homes, or intermediate care facilities
for individuals with intellectual disabilities are particularly impacted by these gaps; and
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        WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the state of Louisiana to ensure that medically
necessary care follows the individual, and is delivered in the most appropriate and least
restrictive setting.
        THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
request the Louisiana Department of Health to conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate
gaps in acute care access for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, to
be known as the "Derek's Promise Study".
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana requests the
Louisiana Department of Health to examine, at a minimum, all of the following:
        (1) Gaps in acute care access, including but not limited to those affecting individuals
with intellectual and developmental disabilities receiving services through home- and
community-based waivers, licensed group homes or community homes, intermediate care
facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and private homes supported by
Medicaid-funded services.
        (2) Barriers within the Medicaid and waiver systems, including but not limited to
service limitations and caps during acute medical episodes, prior authorization processes and
delays, workforce shortages including skilled nursing and specialized providers, and
reimbursement structures that limit provider participation in acute care delivery.
        (3) Hospital utilization trends, including but not limited to preventable hospital
admissions, extended hospital stays due to lack of appropriate discharge options, and
readmission rates associated with inadequate post-acute support.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana requests the
Louisiana Department of Health to develop all of the following:
        (1) A coordinated intellectual and developmental disabilities acute care pathway
model, including but not limited to hospital-to-home or community transition processes,
acute care delivery models within community-based or facility settings, the feasibility of
hospital-at-home or similar models for individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities, and continuity of care plans across settings.
        (2) Policy and funding recommendations, including but not limited to modifications
to Medicaid state plan services, increased flexibility within home- and community-based
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waivers during acute episodes, reimbursement adjustments to support acute-level services,
and strategies to expand provider capacity and workforce.
       (3) Rural and underserved access solutions, including but not limited to the use of
telehealth and remote monitoring, development of mobile clinical support teams, and
regional partnerships to expand access to care.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana requests the
Louisiana Department of Health to consult and collaborate with, at a minimum, the office
for citizens with developmental disabilities, the bureau of health services financing,
providers of home- and community-based services, operators of intermediate care facilities
for individuals with intellectual disabilities and group homes, physicians and other
healthcare professionals experienced in treating individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities, disability advocacy organizations, family members and
caregivers, and representatives of rural healthcare systems.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Department of Health shall submit
a written report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to
the House and Senate committees on health and welfare on or before February 1, 2027.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby create
the "IDD Acute Care and Crisis Response Task Force" to study acute healthcare access,
crisis stabilization services, care coordination, and emergency response systems for
individuals   with   intellectual   and   developmental     disabilities and to      develop
recommendations, together with any proposals for legislation, necessary to improve
healthcare outcomes and continuity of care for such individuals.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Department of Health shall
provide staffing and administrative support for the task force.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall consist of the following
members:
       (1) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, or his designee.
       (2) The assistant secretary of the office for citizens with developmental disabilities,
or his designee.
       (3) The director of the Louisiana Medicaid program, or his designee.
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       (4) One member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the
House of Representatives.
       (5) One representative of a hospital system that provides acute care services to
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
       (6) One physician with experience treating individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities.
       (7) One representative from a behavioral health provider organization, appointed by
the speaker of the House of Representatives.
       (8) Two family advocates of individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities, one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed
by the president of the Senate.
       (9) Two representatives of a community-based provider organization serving
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, one appointed by the speaker
of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the president of the Senate.
       (10) One member of the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet at least quarterly and
shall evaluate all of the following:
       (1) Gaps in acute healthcare access and crisis stabilization services for individuals
with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
       (2) Emergency room utilization patterns, discharge barriers, and avoidable
hospitalizations involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
       (3) Workforce shortages affecting continuity of care and access to specialized
healthcare services.
       (4) The availability of specialized treatment programs, crisis response resources, and
transitional care options.
       (5) Opportunities for regional pilot programs, coordinated care models, and
partnerships between healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, and
community-based providers.
       (6) Medicaid reimbursement policies and other financial or administrative barriers
impacting service delivery and continuity of care.
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        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the members of the task force shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All official actions of the task force shall
require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rules of Order of the House of
Representatives and applicable Joint Rules shall apply to all meetings of the task force.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
without compensation, except per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be
individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that meetings of the task force shall be subject to the
Open Meetings Law, R.S. 42:11 et seq., and records of the task force shall be subject to the
Public Records Law, R.S. 44:1 et seq.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a written report of
its findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the legislature and to the
David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:771 and 772 no later
than January 15, 2027.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall terminate following the
conclusion of its business or January 30, 2027, whichever occurs first.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all state agencies, departments, and offices shall
cooperate with the task force and provide available data, information, and assistance
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Resolution.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, assistant secretary of the office for citizens
with developmental disabilities, and the director of the Louisiana Medicaid program.
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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