§1081.6. Sickle cell anemia; clinics established statewide

A. The Louisiana Department of Health shall establish and operate a minimum of seven clinics for the treatment of sickle cell anemia throughout the state if and when one hundred percent federal funding becomes available for this purpose.

B. The clinics shall be established in cooperation with the medical schools of Louisiana State University and Tulane University, the state medical centers, the sickle cell anemia foundations, and the National Research Center for Sickle Cell Anemia at Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge and shall be located in Monroe, Shreveport, Alexandria, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans.

C.(1) The clinics shall be maintained for the treatment of victims of sickle cell anemia and shall also provide holistic care and counseling for families of victims of sickle cell anemia. Fees for treatment shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 46:6.

(2) For purposes of this Section, "holistic care" includes educational literature, screening, testing, treatment, and referral to appropriate persons or facilities.

D. The clinics shall develop a working rapport with the state public health clinics and substance abuse centers and the sickle cell anemia foundations and shall organize support groups within the parish and surrounding parishes where they are located.

E. Each clinic shall be staffed by a physician, nurse, and any other staff as necessary to provide treatment and other services and shall contract with at least one hematologist to serve the clinic and may cooperate and interact with other state and private institutions in order to staff the clinic.

Acts 1993, No. 604, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1299.4.1 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.