PART VI-C. PILOT CHILDREN'S COMFORT CARE CENTER

§2176.1. Pilot children's comfort care center

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Louisiana Department of Health shall allow Angels' Place, Inc. to establish a pilot program creating a freestanding children's comfort care center to provide comfort care for children with limited life expectancy and their families. Such care may include but need not be limited to:

(1) Respite care for such children and their families, to be available intermittently during the course of the child's illness.

(2) End-of-life care for children that includes whole child care in a child-centered, family-oriented, home-like setting for families who need a home-like option other than home.

(3) Whole family care consisting of supportive care for the whole family including accommodation for parents, specialized support for siblings and other persons important to the child, and bereavement support.

B. The Louisiana Department of Health shall report to the House and Senate Committees on Health and Welfare on the status of the pilot program established under Subsection A of this Section prior to the 2003 Regular Session. Angels' Place, Inc. shall cooperate with the department on the development of standards, if needed, for the pilot program. The report shall include but need not be limited to recommendations on the need for state agency regulation, if any, of children's comfort care centers such as that established under Subsection A of this Section.

C. The pilot program established under this Section shall terminate September 30, 2003.

Acts 2001, No. 923, §1, eff. June 26, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 571, §2.