Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part I - General Administration
Subpart 3 - Licensing and Certification
Chapter 93 - Hospitals
Subchapter S - Obstetrical and Newborn Services (Optional)
Section I-9511 - General Provisions for Hospitals Licensed After January 1, 2022, and for Existing Hospitals Beginning July 1, 2023

A.Sections 9511-9517 shall be effective immediately upon publication of these provisions for hospitals licensed after January 1, 2022.

B. The level of care of the neonatal ICU is not required to match or exceed the level of obstetrical care for each level of obstetrical service.

C. For facilities that change the level of care and services of the facility's NICU unit, either decreasing or increasing the level provided, the facility shall submit an attestation of this change to the department's HSS in writing and on the appropriate state neonatal services Medicaid attestation form. Such notice shall be submitted to the HSS within 90 days of the facility's change in NICU level provided. For facilities that change the level of care and services of a facility's obstetrical unit, by either decreasing or increasing the level provided, the facility shall submit written notice of this change to HSS within 90 days of such change.

D. For purposes of this Subchapter, the requirements for hospital staff and/or equipment as being physically present at all times specifies the person and/or equipment shall be onsite in the location 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

E. For purposes of this Subchapter, the requirements for hospital staff and/ or equipment as being readily available at all times specifies the person shall be available, as approved by hospital policy, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

F. Any transfer agreements shall be in writing and approved by the hospital medical staff and by each hospital's governing body. Transfer agreements shall be reviewed at least annually and revised as needed.

G. For those hospitals providing transports, the qualifications of the transport team shall be in writing, defined by hospital policy and approved by each hospital's governing body. Such qualifications shall be reviewed at least annually and revised as needed.

H. The hospital shall have data collection and retrieval capabilities in use, and shall cooperate and report the requested data to the appropriate supervisory agencies to review.