La. Stat. tit. 36 § 254

Current with operative changes from the 2024 Third Special Legislative Session

Section 36:254 - Powers and duties of the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health

A. In addition to the functions, powers, and duties otherwise vested in the secretary by law, he shall:

(1) Represent the public interest in the administration of this Chapter and shall be responsible to the governor, the legislature, and the public therefor.

(2) Determine the policies of the department, except as otherwise provided by this Title. For this purpose, he shall conduct such studies and investigations as are necessary for the formulation of programs, plans, department procedures, rules and regulations, or for the implementation of remedial actions.

(3) In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, make, alter, amend, and promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the administration of the functions of the department, except as otherwise provided by this Title.

(4) Organize, plan, supervise, direct, administer, execute, and be responsible for the functions and programs vested in the department, in the manner and to the extent provided by this Title.

(5) Advise the governor on problems concerning the administration of the department.

(6)

(a) Act as the sole agent of the state or, in necessary cases, designate one of the offices within the department or its assistant secretary to cooperate with the federal government and with other state and local agencies in matters of mutual concern and in the administration of federal funds granted to the state or directly to the department or an office thereof to aid in the furtherance of any function of the department or its offices, including but not limited to funding for the Medical Assistance Program, Title XIX of the Social Security Act. For this purpose he may take such actions, in accordance with any applicable state law, necessary to meet such federal standards as are established for the administration and use of such federal funds, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Title or by the constitution and laws of this state.

(b) Act as the sole agent of the state or, in necessary cases, designate one of the offices within the department or its assistant secretary to cooperate with the federal government and with other state and local agencies in the administration of federal funds granted to the state pursuant to the State Children's Health Insurance Program, Title XXI of the Social Security Act. For this purpose he may take such actions, in accordance with any applicable state law, necessary to meet such federal standards as are established for the administration and use of such federal funds, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Title or by the constitution and laws of this state, and provided that if the department develops a private health insurance model, the department and the Department of Insurance shall jointly promulgate the necessary rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to establish the private health insurance model. Any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to the private health insurance model shall be subject to review by the House Committee on Health and Welfare, the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, the House Committee on Insurance, and the Senate Committee on Insurance.

(7) Make and publish an annual report to the governor and the legislature concerning the operations of the department and submit with each report such recommendations as he deems necessary for the more effective internal structure and administration of the department, and make other reports and recommendations on his own initiative or upon the request of the governor, the legislature, or any committee or member thereof.

(8) Provide for the ongoing merger and consolidation of the agencies and functions transferred to his department and submit a report thereon to the governor and the legislature, which report shall accompany the budget request which he submits under provisions of R.S. 39:33. Such report shall include a statement of the goals of the department and of the programs thereof and shall summarize the accomplishments of the department in meeting such goals and implementing such programs. The report shall also contain a specific statement of the reorganization and consolidation plan for the department for the next year and shall include a report on the implementation of such reorganization and consolidation plan for the previous year. The report concerning reorganization shall specifically detail the extent to which the department has achieved goals stated the previous year with respect to merger and consolidation of functions, abolition of agencies, consolidation of offices, elimination of job positions, and efficiency and economy in delivery of services. The report shall contain any recommendations with respect to reorganization which may require legislative action under the provisions of this Title. A copy of the report and recommended legislation shall also be submitted by the secretary to the presiding officer of each house of the legislature. The presiding officer shall refer the report to the appropriate committee having jurisdiction of the subject matter as provided in the rules of the respective house.

(9) Conduct hearings and pass upon complaints that may be made in relation to the administration of this Chapter; provided, however, that the secretary shall have the authority to delegate this authority to one of the offices of the department or to one of the agencies therein.

(10) Perform the functions of the state relating to:

(a) Licensing of health-related professionals.

(b) Licensing of health facilities, including hospitals and nursing homes.

(c) Licensing of institutions for persons with intellectual disabilities.

(d) Licensing of systems of distribution for controlled dangerous substances.

(e) Licensing of child care institutions funded under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

(f) Any required certification for Medicare or Medicaid funding.

(g) Certification of emergency medical services.

(h) In accordance with R.S. 15:1501 et seq., provision of adult protective services to adults with disabilities.

(11) Direct and be responsible for grants management, staff development, and policy planning and evaluation for the department and all of its offices, including all agencies transferred to the Louisiana Department of Health.

(12)

(a) Provide targeted health care programs in priority health care zones upon one hundred percent federal funding for such purpose. Such targeted programs shall:

(i) Be intended to lower infant mortality, teenage pregnancy, and substance abuse.

(ii) Be of the type determined by the secretary.

(iii) Be in addition to programs already in existence or any programs that may have been implemented in these areas by the department under normal circumstances.

(b) "Priority health care zone" means any parish or municipality listed as one of the ten parishes or twenty-five municipalities with the highest rates of infant mortality, teenage pregnancy, or substance abuse in Louisiana as of July first of any given year according to statistics compiled by the Louisiana Department of Health and the Department of Children and Family Services.

(c) The secretary shall submit annually, to the health and welfare committees of the House of Representatives and Senate, a report detailing actions taken by the Louisiana Department of Health in compliance with this Paragraph.

(13)

(a) Develop and implement targeted programs, if and when federal funds become available, to enhance basic care facilities as defined in R.S. 40:2175 and comprehensive regional treatment centers that may exist and be located in the ten most populated municipalities in the state, excepting the city of New Orleans.

(b) These targeted programs should be of the type developed by the secretary and be intended to enhance the available and accessible health care of the citizens of the more rural areas of the state.

(14) Determine how funding for residency positions, residency supervision, and other medical education resources shall be allocated among institutions which provide medical education at hospitals in the health care services division of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, including the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans, to ensure that there is an equitable distribution among medical education programs providing services in public institutions. In making such determinations, the secretary shall consider the historical distribution of graduate medical education resources, the long-term effects of the allocation of medical education resources to each program, and the clinical workload of each program.

(15)

(a) On an annual basis, provide all of the following information to the legislature no later than fifteen days prior to the convening of each regular session:

(i) A full organizational chart for the department which is current as of the date of submission to the legislature and which shows each staff position, whether filled or vacant, that comprises the department.

(ii) The current salary of the person occupying each filled position shown on the organizational chart.

(b) The secretary may submit the report required by this Paragraph in electronic format and is further authorized, but is not required, to submit the report at the time of submission of the annual report required by Paragraph (7) of this Subsection.

B. The secretary shall have authority to:

(1)

(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in R.S. 36:801 and 803:

(i) Employ, appoint, remove, assign, and promote such personnel as is necessary for the efficient administration of the executive office of the secretary and the performance of its powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities and such other personnel, who are not assigned to an office, as may be necessary for the efficient administration of the department and for the performance of the responsibilities, powers, duties, and functions of agencies transferred to it.

(ii) Employ, assign, and remove all personnel employed for the department on a contractual basis.

(iii) Transfer the personnel of the department as necessary for the efficient administration of the department and its programs.

(b) All of the functions provided for in this Paragraph shall be accomplished in accordance with applicable civil service law, rules, and regulations, and with policies and rules of the department, and all are subject to budgetary control and applicable laws.

(2) Appoint, subject to gubernatorial approval, advisory councils, boards, and commissions necessary in the administration of the department, except as otherwise provided by law or by executive order.

(3) Accept and use, in accordance with law, gifts, grants, bequests, and endowments for purposes consistent with the responsibilities and functions of the department and take such actions as are necessary to comply with any conditions required for such acceptance.

(4) Formulate and promulgate rules of administration for the department relating to employment and management.

(5) Act as legal custodian of any child placed with the department by a court of law.

(6) Grant rights of way, servitudes, and easements across state-owned lands under his jurisdiction to other public bodies, either state or local, for any public purpose. The secretary shall also have authority to grant rights of way, servitudes, and easements across state lands under his jurisdiction to any other person or entity for the purpose of laying pipelines, gas lines, and water lines, and for the transmission of electricity for power and light, and also for telephone and telegraph lines, for railroad lines or tracks, for road construction, and for drainage purposes, and to enter into the necessary contracts therefor, which shall provide for the payment of an adequate consideration. Such payment, in order to be considered as adequate consideration, shall be based on payments made for other comparable contracts in the vicinity, when available, providing compensation for rights of way, servitudes, easements, and for damages relative thereto.

(7) Adopt and promulgate rules and regulations providing for certification of laboratories providing chemical analysis, analytical results, or other appropriate test data to the department which is required as a part of any permit application, required by order of the department or any agency in the department, required to be included on any monitoring reports submitted to the department or any such agency, or otherwise required by the regulations adopted pursuant to state or federal laws. The regulations shall provide for appropriate fees to be charged to develop and operate the laboratory certification program.

(8) Do such other things, not inconsistent with law, as are necessary to properly perform the functions vested in him.

(9) Assign the function of diagnosis and case management of persons suffering from substance abuse, persons with intellectual disabilities, persons with developmental disabilities, and persons with autism to the appropriate office with the Louisiana Department of Health or the appropriate level of government.

C. The secretary shall have no power to buy and sell lands, incur debt or issue bonds, or to lease or mortgage property under his control except as may be provided by the general laws of the state or as hereafter specifically conferred by law upon him.

(1)

(a)

(i) The secretary shall direct and be responsible for the Medical Assistance Program, Title XIX of the Social Security Act, including eligibility determination and those health planning and resource development functions as are permissible under provisions of Title XIX of the Social Security Act, Title XXI of the Social Security Act, and R.S. 46:976. Any modification to the Medical Assistance Program approved by waiver by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care Financing Administration or its successor, that provides for a managed care or voucher system shall be implemented by the secretary but only after the approved plan and any modifications thereto have been approved by the House and Senate committees on health and welfare and the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. Unless approved by such committees as provided in this Subparagraph, modifications to the medical assistance program as provided in this Subparagraph shall not be considered avoidance of a budget deficit in the case of medical assistance programs, shall not be considered a means of securing new or enhanced federal funding in medical assistance programs, and shall not be considered necessary to avoid imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare; such modification shall not be promulgated as emergency rules under the provisions of R.S. 49:962 unless approved by such committees.

(ii) Any state Medicaid plan amendment shall provide assurances that for the provisions of the plan being amended, the state's payment rates for hospital, nursing facility, and institutional services shall be reasonable and adequate to meet the costs that must be incurred by efficiently and economically operated facilities, and any state Medicaid plan amendment shall comply with Section 1902(a)(13)(A) of the Social Security Act, known as the Boren amendment. The requirements of this Item shall not apply to state Medicaid plan amendments to implement a waiver approved by both houses of the legislature in accordance with Item (i) of this Subparagraph.

(b) The secretary is authorized to enter into interagency agreements for the performance of eligibility determination services to determine client eligibility for the Medical Assistance Program.

(2) Except as otherwise limited by a specific provision of law, the secretary is authorized to perform all of the following relative to or concerning the Medical Assistance Program:

(a) Adopt and promulgate rules and regulations related to the program in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

(b) Develop and implement criteria, policies, and procedures concerning the program.

(c) Investigate, audit, and impose sanctions and other remedial measures on health care providers and others concerning the program.

(d) File suit on behalf of the Medical Assistance Program and select legal counsel employed by the department and other counsel as permitted by law to represent the secretary and the Medical Assistance Program in any such actions.

(3) The secretary may adopt rules and regulations for health care providers, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and not inconsistent with state or federal law, governing their participation in the Medical Assistance Program. Such rules and regulations may include but shall not be limited to the following:

(a) The requirement that any health care provider who wishes to participate in the state Medical Assistance Program shall:

(i) Enter into an agreement with the secretary prior to receipt of any payment or reimbursement for services rendered to persons eligible for the Medical Assistance Program.

(ii) Provide specified information and provide authorization for the secretary to verify such information prior to entering into the agreement with the secretary.

(iii) Provide a letter of credit, surety bond, or a combination thereof, not to exceed fifty thousand dollars.

(b) General terms and conditions to which any provider shall agree in order to enter into a health care provider agreement with the secretary.

(c) Terms and conditions for the suspension, denial, or revocation of a health care provider agreement.

(d) Sanctions for violations of federal and state laws and rules applicable to the Medical Assistance Program.

(1) The functions relative to the operation and management of mental health, intellectual disabilities, and substance abuse services for Jefferson Parish having been transferred by department rules to the Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority in accordance with Part I of Chapter 21 of Title 28 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 shall be the responsibility of and shall be performed by the Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority.

(2) Funds appropriated by the legislature for the costs of providing those functions and services transferred from the department to the authority shall be included in the department budget and shall be transferred from the department to the authority at the beginning of each state fiscal year. The secretary shall provide for the inclusion of such funds in the department budget request. Funding for the authority from such source shall be at least at the same level as provided for similar programs funded through the department budget in other parishes or regions of the state.

(1) The functions relative to the operation and management of community-based mental health, developmental disabilities, substance abuse services, and certain community-based public health services for the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana transferred in accordance with R.S. 28:910 et seq., shall be the responsibility of and shall be performed by the Capital Area Human Services District. If funds are not appropriated by the legislature for the district to perform these functions in those parishes, the functions shall be the responsibility of and shall be performed by the department in those parishes.

(2) Funds appropriated by the legislature for the costs of providing those functions and services transferred from the department to the district shall be included in the department budget and shall be transferred from the department to the district in accordance with the agreement between the secretary of the department and the district. The secretary shall provide for the inclusion of such funds in the department budget request. Funding for the district from such source shall be at least at the same level and from the same means of financing as provided for similar programs funded through the department budget in other parishes or regions of the state. The agreement between the secretary and the district shall also provide for the gradual assumption of community-based public health functions by the district.

G. Repealed by Acts 2006, No. 465, §3, eff. June 15, 2006.

(1) The functions relative to the operation and management of community-based mental health, developmental disabilities, and addictive disorder services for the parishes of Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington transferred in accordance with R.S. 28:910 et seq. shall be the responsibility of and shall be performed by the Florida Parishes Human Services Authority. If funds are not appropriated by the legislature for the authority to perform these functions in those parishes, the functions shall be the responsibility of and shall be performed by the department in those parishes.

(2) Funds appropriated by the legislature for the costs of providing those functions and services transferred from the department to the authority shall be included in the department budget and shall be transferred from the department to the authority in accordance with the agreement between the secretary of the department and the authority. The secretary shall provide for the inclusion of such funds in the department budget request. Funding for the authority from such source shall be at least at the same level and from the same means of financing as provided for similar programs funded through the department budget in other parishes or regions of the state.

(1) The functions relative to the operation and management of community-based mental health, developmental disabilities, and addictive disorder services for the parishes of Orleans, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines transferred in accordance with R.S. 28:910 et seq. shall be the responsibility of and shall be performed by the Metropolitan Human Services District. If funds are not appropriated by the legislature for the district to perform these functions in those parishes, the functions shall be the responsibility of and shall be performed by the department in those parishes.

(1) The functions relative to the operation and management of community-based mental health, developmental disabilities, and addictive disorder services for the parishes of Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, and Terrebonne transferred in accordance with R.S. 28:910 et seq., shall be the responsibility of and shall be performed by the South Central Louisiana Human Services District. If funds are not appropriated by the legislature for the district to perform these functions in those parishes, the functions shall be the responsibility of and shall be performed by the department in those parishes.

(1) The functions relative to the operation and management of community-based mental health, developmental disabilities, and addictive disorder services for the parishes of Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, and West Carroll transferred in accordance with R.S. 28:910 et seq., shall be the responsibility of and shall be performed by the Northeast Delta Human Services Authority. If funds are not appropriated by the legislature for the authority to perform these functions in those parishes, the functions shall be the responsibility of and shall be performed by the department in those parishes.

(2) Funds appropriated by the legislature for the costs of providing those functions and services transferred from the department to the authority shall be included in the department budget and shall be transferred from the department to the authority in accordance with the agreement between the secretary of the department and the authority. The secretary shall provide for the inclusion of such funds in the department budget request. Funding for the authority from such source shall be on at least the same level and from the same means of financing as provided for similar programs funded through the department budget in other parishes or regions of the state.

L. Any salary adjustment or cost of living adjustment for any employee or board member of a board, entity, agency, or commission transferred to the Louisiana Department of Health and enumerated in R.S. 36:259 or any employee of a human services district or authority established and enumerated in R.S. 28:912 shall not be granted in any year after a deficit is declared without express written approval of two-thirds of the members of the respective governing board. The express written approval shall be submitted to the secretary in accordance with the reporting provided for in R.S. 36:803.

La. R.S. § 36:254

Acts 1976, No. 513, §1; Acts 1977, No. 83, §1, eff. June 22, 1977; Acts 1978, No. 786, §4, eff. July 17, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 355, §1; Acts 1983, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 13, §1, eff. July 1, 1983; Acts 1984, No. 234, §1; Acts 1987, No. 736, §1; Acts 1988, 1st. Ex. Sess., No. 1, §2, eff. Mar. 28, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 772, §2, eff. July 17, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 858, §2, eff. July 18, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 89, §1, eff. June 16, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 140, §1, eff. June 22, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 231, §1, eff. June 26, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 458, §2; Acts 1990, No. 94, §2; Acts 1990, No. 219, §1; Acts 1990, No. 351, §1, eff. July 10, 1990; Acts 1992, No. 571, §1, eff. July 1, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 975, §2, eff. July 9, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 170, §§2 and 3, eff. May 31, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 466, §2, eff. June 9, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 554, §1; Acts 1993, No. 712, §2, eff. June 21, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 736, §1; Acts 1995, No. 420, §1, eff. June 17, 1995; Acts 1995, No. 723, §2, eff. June 21, 1995; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 54, §2; Acts 1997, No. 3, §3, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 953, §1, eff. July 10, 1997; Acts 1997, No. 958, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1130, §1; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 128, §1, eff. May 5, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 642, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 656, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 802, §3, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 826, §2, eff. June 26, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 594, §3, eff. June 27, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 846, §3, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2006, No. 449, §2, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 465, §3, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 631, §2, eff. June 23, 2006; Acts 2010, No. 861, §17; Acts 2010, No. 877, §3, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2013, No. 220, §14, eff. June 11, 2013; Acts 2014, No. 811, §18, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2016, No. 338, §1, eff. June 2, 2016; Acts 2016, No. 557, §2; Acts 2018, No. 206, §2; Acts 2021, No. 211, §9; Acts 2022, No. 271, §7; Acts 2022, No. 592, §2A, eff. June 17, 2022.

Amended by Acts 2022, No. 592,s. 2, eff. 6/17/2022.

Amended by Acts 2021, No. 211,s. 9, eff. 8/1/2021.

Amended by Acts 2018, No. 206,s. 2, eff. 8/1/2018.

Amended by Acts 2016, No. 557,s. 2, eff. 8/1/2016.

Amended by Acts 2016, No. 338,s. 1, eff. 6/2/2016.

Amended by Acts 2014, No. 811,s. 18, eff. 6/23/2014.

Amended by Acts 2013, No. 220,s. 14, eff. 6/11/2013.

Acts 1976, No. 513, §1; Acts 1977, No. 83, §1, eff. 6/22/1977; Acts 1978, No. 786, §4, eff. 7/17/1978; Acts 1979, No. 355, §1; Acts 1983, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 13, §1, eff. 7/1/1983; Acts 1984, No. 234, §1; Acts 1987, No. 736, §1; Acts 1988, 1st. Ex. Sess., No. 1, §2, eff. 3/28/1988; Acts 1988, No. 772, §2, eff. 7/17/1988; Acts 1988, No. 858, §2, eff. 7/18/1988; Acts 1989, No. 89, §1, eff. 6/16/1989; Acts 1989, No. 140, §1, eff. 6/22/1989; Acts 1989, No. 231, §1, eff. 6/26/1989; Acts 1989, No. 458, §2; Acts 1990, No. 94, §2; Acts 1990, No. 219, §1; Acts 1990, No. 351, §1, eff. 7/10/1990; Acts 1992, No. 571, §1, eff. 7/1/1992; Acts 1992, No. 975, §2, eff. 7/9/1992; Acts 1993, No. 170, §§2 and 3, eff. 5/31/1993; Acts 1993, No. 466, §2, eff. 6/9/1993; Acts 1993, No. 554, §1; Acts 1993, No. 712, §2, eff. 6/21/1993; Acts 1993, No. 736, §1; Acts 1995, No. 420, §1, eff. 6/17/1995; Acts 1995, No. 723, §2, eff. 6/21/1995; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 54, §2; Acts 1997, No. 3, §3, eff. 7/1/1997; Acts 1997, No. 953, §1, eff. 7/10/1997; Acts 1997, No. 958, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1130, §1; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 128, §1, eff. 5/5/1998; Acts 1999, No. 642, §1, eff. 7/1/1999; Acts 1999, No. 656, §1, eff. 7/1/1999; Acts 1999, No. 802, §3, eff. 7/2/1999; Acts 2001, No. 826, §2, eff. 6/26/2001; Acts 2003, No. 594, §3, eff. 6/27/2003; Acts 2003, No. 846, §3, eff. 7/1/2003; Acts 2006, No. 449, §2, eff. 6/15/2006; Acts 2006, No. 465, §3, eff. 6/15/2006; Acts 2006, No. 631, §2, eff. 6/23/2006; Acts 2010, No. 861, §17; Acts 2010, No. 877, §3, eff. 7/1/2010.

R.S. 40:2175 repealed by Acts 1999, No. 4, §1.

See Acts 2022, No. 271, §71, and Acts 2006, No. 449, §4, repealing relative to effectiveness and powers and duties of the board of the South Central La. Human Services District.