§1081.7. Sickle cell anemia; local programs

A. The Shreveport Sickle Cell Clinic, the Northeast Louisiana Sickle Cell Foundation, the Sickle Cell Anemia Rehabilitation and Educational Program, Inc., the Alexandria Sickle Cell Program, the Eighth Regional Sickle Cell Foundation, and the Baton Rouge Sickle Cell Program, hereinafter referred to as "program", shall be maintained for the treatment of victims of sickle cell anemia regardless of geographic and economic family situation and without regard to the standard eligibility requirements of charity hospitals. In addition, the programs shall implement policies and plans to convert their individual facility into regionalized facilities, whereby each facility is responsible for sickle cell anemia patients in parishes surrounding the main facility.

B. Each program shall provide holistic care, which shall include but not be limited to educational literature, screening, testing, treatment, and referrals. If funds are available, each program shall:

(1) Provide a physician or nurse to provide proper health care.

(2) Provide a hematologist to provide proper testing to sickle cell anemia patients.

(3) Provide counseling for families of those who are affected by sickle cell anemia and which fatality appears imminent.

(4) The executive director of each regional sickle cell anemia clinic shall possess the minimum qualifications established by rules promulgated by the Louisiana Department of Health.

C. The provisions of this Section shall not relieve or remove any responsibilities of the Louisiana Department of Health from implementing and complying with the provisions of R.S. 40:1081.5.

D. The provisions of this Section shall be implemented if and when one hundred percent federal funds are made available for the purposes set forth in this Section.

Acts 1993, No. 605, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1299.4.2 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.