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HLS 26RS-999 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 67
BY REPRESENTATIVE BUTLER
HEALTH CARE/FACILITIES: Requests the Louisiana Department of Health to study and
report on gaps in acute healthcare access for individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 To request the Louisiana Department of Health to study and report on gaps in acute care
3 access for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to develop
4 recommendations for a coordinated system of care across healthcare settings, to be
5 known as the "Derek's Promise Study".
6 WHEREAS, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities frequently
7 experience complex medical conditions requiring acute care services; and
8 WHEREAS, Louisiana's current Medicaid, waiver, and facility-based systems are
9 primarily designed for long-term supports and are not structured to adequately respond to
10 acute medical episodes; and
11 WHEREAS, when individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
12 experience acute medical instability, they often face unnecessary hospitalization, delayed
13 discharge, or disruption of services due to limitations in community- or facility-based care
14 options; and
15 WHEREAS, families, caregivers, and providers encounter barriers including service
16 caps, prior authorization delays, workforce shortages, and insufficient reimbursement for
17 acute-level services outside hospital settings; and
18 WHEREAS, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities residing in
19 home- and community-based waiver programs, group homes, or intermediate care facilities
20 for individuals with intellectual disabilities are particularly impacted by these gaps; and
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HLS 26RS-999 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 67
1 WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the state of Louisiana to ensure that medically
2 necessary care follows the individual, and is delivered in the most appropriate and least
3 restrictive setting.
4 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
5 request the Louisiana Department of Health to conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate
6 gaps in acute care access for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, to
7 be known as the "Derek's Promise Study".
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana requests the
9 Louisiana Department of Health to examine, at a minimum, all of the following:
10 (1) Gaps in acute care access, including but not limited to those affecting individuals
11 with intellectual and developmental disabilities receiving services through home- and
12 community-based waivers, licensed group homes or community homes, intermediate care
13 facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and private homes supported by
14 Medicaid-funded services.
15 (2) Barriers within the Medicaid and waiver systems, including but not limited to
16 service limitations and caps during acute medical episodes, prior authorization processes and
17 delays, workforce shortages including skilled nursing and specialized providers, and
18 reimbursement structures that limit provider participation in acute care delivery.
19 (3) Hospital utilization trends, including but not limited to preventable hospital
20 admissions, extended hospital stays due to lack of appropriate discharge options, and
21 readmission rates associated with inadequate post-acute support.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana requests the
23 Louisiana Department of Health to develop all of the following:
24 (1) A coordinated intellectual and developmental disabilities acute care pathway
25 model, including but not limited to hospital-to-home or community transition processes,
26 acute care delivery models within community-based or facility settings, the feasibility of
27 hospital-at-home or similar models for individuals with intellectual and developmental
28 disabilities, and continuity of care plans across settings.
29 (2) Policy and funding recommendations, including but not limited to modifications
30 to Medicaid state plan services, increased flexibility within home- and community-based
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HLS 26RS-999 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 67
1 waivers during acute episodes, reimbursement adjustments to support acute-level services,
2 and strategies to expand provider capacity and workforce.
3 (3) Rural and underserved access solutions, including but not limited to the use of
4 telehealth and remote monitoring, development of mobile clinical support teams, and
5 regional partnerships to expand access to care.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana requests the
7 Louisiana Department of Health to consult and collaborate with, at a minimum, the office
8 for citizens with developmental disabilities, the bureau of health services financing,
9 providers of home- and community-based services, operators of intermediate care facilities
10 for individuals with intellectual disabilities and group homes, physicians and other
11 healthcare professionals experienced in treating individuals with intellectual and
12 developmental disabilities, disability advocacy organizations, family members and
13 caregivers, and representatives of rural healthcare systems.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Department of Health shall submit
15 a written report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to
16 the House and Senate committees on health and welfare on or before February 1, 2027.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
18 secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 67 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Butler
Requests the Louisiana Department of Health to study and report on 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. Requests a
written report of its findings by Feb. 1, 2027.
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