WOMEN: Commends Our Lady of Angels on its work with Project M.O.M.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Beth Mizell

The bill endorses Our Lady of Angels’ integrated prenatal maternal-infant care model within Project M.O.M. as a statewide effort to reduce pregnancy-related overdose deaths.

Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate and sent to the Secretary of State by the Secretary of the Senate on 4/23/2026.

Purpose and Intent

SR 83 commends Our Lady of Angels Hospital in Bogalusa for its work with Project Maternal Overdose Mortality (Project M.O.M.).

The resolution recognizes the hospital as an inaugural catalyst site for Project M.O.M. and highlights its role in supporting pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorder (SUD).

Key Provisions and Content

Acknowledges the high risk of opioid-related death in pregnancy in Louisiana, noting that accidental opioid overdose has been the leading cause of pregnancy-associated death since 2018.

Emphasizes the tragic impact of pregnancy-associated deaths on mothers and their children, underscoring the need for targeted intervention.

Describes the goals of Project M.O.M.:

Scale best practices and pilot programs statewide to increase substance use screening in prenatal care settings.
Increase availability and access to treatments for substance use disorders, including medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
Improve care coordination for pregnant and postpartum women, including linking emergency department overdoses to rapid outpatient treatment.
Improve access to lifesaving medications such as naloxone to prevent overdose deaths.

Highlights Our Lady of Angels’ specific initiatives:

Establishment of a specialized Family Medicine–OB Partnership to expand access to MOUD for pregnant women with SUD.
Integrated primary care support throughout the maternal journey.
Targeted treatment plans for infants exposed to substances, improving withdrawal care, reducing hospital stays, and supporting mother-infant bonding.

Reports regional impact:

The associated region experienced a 35% decrease in overdose mortality after implementing the program.
Through statewide Project M.O.M. efforts, overdose mortality is projected to fall by 80% in the coming years.

Resolution language:

The Senate commends Our Lady of Angels for its work and for serving as a model for Louisiana’s Project M.O.M. efforts.
A copy of the resolution will be transmitted to Our Lady of Angels.

Affected Parties and Beneficiaries

Primary beneficiaries: Pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorder.

Infants exposed to substances and their families, due to integrated care approaches that support withdrawal management and mother-infant bonding.

Hospitals and providers participating in Project M.O.M., especially those adopting the Our Lady of Angels model as a catalyst site.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

SR 83 was read by title and adopted on April 21, 2026.

The resolution functions as an acknowledgement and commendation rather than creating new law or mandatory programs.

No funding authorization or mandatory timelines are attached to the resolution; it expresses support and highlights projected impact of Project M.O.M.

Practical Takeaway

SR 83 publicly acknowledges and endorses Our Lady of Angels’ leadership in integrating prenatal, maternal, and infant care with substance use disorder treatment and overdose prevention.

It frames Project M.O.M. as a statewide effort aimed at substantial reduction in pregnancy-associated overdose deaths, with Our Lady of Angels presented as a successful model.

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