LOUISIANA Community Mental Health Services Block Grant ...

other parts of the state. Some of these clinics have remained open, although in smaller scale. The
LSUSD campus serves primarily residents from the greater New Orleans area; however, LSUSD
satellite clinics serve citizens in other areas of the state. In addition, Earl K. Long Hospital in Baton
Rouge provides routine dental care.
A recent increase in the reimbursement rates for treating children who receive Medicaid benefits
coincided with an influx of mobile dental clinics. House Bill 687 of the Regular Session of the
2010 Louisiana Legislature was the Louisiana Dental Association-supported bill that addressed
dentistry in public schools, citing that nonpermanent dental clinics were unsanitary and discouraged
parental involvement in their children‟s dental care. Initially, the bill sought to prohibit all dentistry
on school grounds. Critics of the bill argued that elimination of dental services by mobile units or
those offered in the schools would deny poor children access to dental care. After much debate, the
final piece of legislation, ACT 429 charged the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry with addressing
such vital issues as maintenance of equipment; minimal standards; disposal of infectious waste;
requiring appropriate consent form from the parent or guardian prior to providing dental services to
a minor; parental consultation/involvement regarding dental services provided to a minor; and
inspection by the licensing board.
HB 881, one of the state‟s supplementary appropriations bills, included $3,141,257 to restore cuts
that had been made to the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Testing Services (EPSDT)
dental services. The EPSDT Dental Program provides coverage for a range of services including
preventive and restorative care. The Louisiana Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped (also
known as Donated Dental Services) received $115,000 in funding for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
Unfortunately, no new funds were appropriated for fluoridation efforts simply because of a lack of
state funds for new projects. The Louisiana Dental Association will continue to work with the
American Dental Association, the Healthy Smiles Coalition and the Department of Health and
Hospitals (DHH) to search for funds for community water fluoridation.
The LSU operated hospitals struggle to meet the needs of Louisiana citizens. The state continues to
debate whether to rebuild a large teaching hospital in New Orleans to replace Charity Hospital,
which was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana is planning to develop a medical home
model for health care. The medical home model will serve the primary care needs of Louisiana
citizens and will ensure proper referral for specialty services.
Following the hurricanes, there was an exodus of healthcare providers from the state. This initially
resulted in long waiting periods for patients, who then often experience increased anxiety and
higher levels of emotional and physical pain. Emergency Department waiting times dramatically
increased. In some regions, hospitals have begun offering some on-site medical services at the
mental health clinics to patients who do not have transportation; and nursing staff is often available
for general nursing consultation and referrals.
The Louisiana Youth Enhanced Services (LaYES) Children‟s Initiative, which paid special
attention to planning, developing and implementing a collaborative network of primary health care
providers, including family physicians, pediatricians, and public health nurses, will have completed
its seventh and final year as a SAMHSA grant awardee in September 2010.
MHSD has offered expanded school based Health Clinics through partnerships with Tulane and
LSU. The Infant, Child, and Family Center (ICFC) in MHSD received grant funding from the
Pennington Family Foundation in December 2008 to expand Occupational Therapy services
PART C LOUISIANA FY 2011 PAGE 210
SECTION III: CHILD/ YOUTH PLAN – CRITERION 1
COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES -- SYSTEM OF CARE & AVAILABLE SERVICES