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HCR 110

HEALTH/WOMEN'S: Provides relative to the maternal mortality crisis in Louisiana

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Denise Marcelle

Declares maternal mortality a Louisiana public health emergency and commission a data-driven plan to reduce deaths, address disparities, and expand care access statewide.

Read by title. Lies over under the rules.
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Bill Summary · HCR 110

Summary of Bill: HCR 110 (Louisiana, 2026)

Purpose and intent

  • Declares maternal mortality a public health emergency in Louisiana.
  • Urges and requests a coordinated, statewide response to reduce maternal mortality and pregnancy-associated mortality.
  • Commissioned review and reporting by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) in collaboration with the Legislature, the Louisiana Center for Health Equity, and other stakeholders to identify barriers, assess current programs, and develop concrete recommendations.

Key provisions and changes proposed

  • Formal declaration: Maternal mortality is characterized as a public health emergency at the state level.
  • Comprehensive review: LDH, in consultation with the Louisiana Center for Health Equity, healthcare providers, insurers, hospitals, federally qualified health centers, academic institutions, community-based organizations, and maternal health advocates, must develop a plan to reduce maternal and pregnancy-associated mortality.
  • Evaluation scope (topics to be reviewed):
    1. Underlying clinical, behavioral, social, geographic, and systemic factors driving maternal mortality and pregnancy-associated mortality.
    2. Racial, geographic, insurance status, and socioeconomic disparities in maternal health outcomes.
    3. Access to prenatal, delivery, postpartum, behavioral health, and emergency maternal healthcare, with emphasis on rural and medically underserved areas.
    4. Availability and geographic distribution of obstetric providers, certified nurse midwives, advanced practice registered nurses, and birthing facilities.
    5. Effectiveness of existing initiatives (PAMR, Medicaid maternal health quality initiatives, telehealth, Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative).
    6. Opportunities to strengthen surveillance, data-sharing, fiscal accountability, and coordination among state agencies, healthcare systems, and community organizations.
    7. Strategies to improve postpartum follow-up, chronic disease management, substance use treatment access, and maternal behavioral health services.
    8. Roles of telehealth, community health workers, doulas, FQHCs, and community-clinical partnerships.
    9. Policy options to address workforce shortages and barriers in maternity care deserts and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
    10. Recommendations for improving oversight, accountability, and long-term monitoring of maternal health outcomes.
  • Deliverable: LDH must submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Health and Welfare and the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare by February 1, 2027.
  • Report contents: The report should address:
    • Improvements to maternal health surveillance and public reporting.
    • Workforce development and provider recruitment strategies.
    • Expansion of telehealth and postpartum care services.
    • Community-based maternal health partnerships and patient navigation services.
    • Fiscal accountability standards for maternal health funding initiatives.
    • Policy strategies to reduce preventable maternal deaths and improve health equity statewide.
  • Administrative coordination: Requires collaboration among LDH, the Louisiana Center for Health Equity, healthcare providers, managed care organizations, hospitals, and other relevant entities.
  • Scope of impact: Aims to improve access to care, reduce preventable deaths, and address disparities in Louisiana’s maternal health outcomes.

Who would be affected

  • State agencies: Louisiana Department of Health (primary lead), and other agencies involved in health and health equity initiatives.
  • Healthcare system stakeholders: Hospitals, obstetric providers, certified nurse midwives, advanced practice registered nurses, federally qualified health centers, managed care organizations.
  • Community and public health partners: Louisiana Center for Health Equity, academic institutions, community-based organizations, maternal health advocates, and telehealth providers.
  • Beneficiaries: Pregnant and postpartum individuals in Louisiana, with particular attention to rural, medically underserved, Black women, and Medicaid beneficiaries who experience disparities in outcomes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Concurrent resolution (non-binding) directing state agencies to study and report.
  • Timeline: Written findings and recommendations due to the two health committees by February 1, 2027.
  • Follow-up: The resolution contemplates a comprehensive plan developed in consultation with multiple stakeholders and presented to legislative committees for consideration, potential future legislation or policy actions based on the LDH report.

Potential impact and policy implications

  • Elevates maternal mortality as a state priority and mandates a formal, data-driven plan.
  • Encourages integration of surveillance data, cross-agency coordination, and accountability measures to monitor progress.
  • Promotes expansion of telehealth, postpartum care, and community-based supports to address access barriers.
  • Seeks to reduce disparities related to race, geography, insurance status, and socioeconomic factors.
  • Could lead to future legislative or budget actions based on LDH’s findings, including funding allocations, program expansions, or regulatory changes to improve maternal health outcomes.

If you’d like, I can tailor this into a one-page briefing for policymakers or convert it into a stakeholder-friendly summary for public release.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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