La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § I-10303
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
Section I-10303 - Geographic Divisions for PlanningA. For governing purposes, Louisiana is divided into 64 parishes. In Executive Order 21, issued by the governor in February, 1973, eight planning regions were designated to be utilized by all state agencies for regional and local planning purposes. Figure 3.1 presents the eight planning regions. Click Here To View Image
B. The National Health Planning and Resources Development Act (P. L. 93-641) and its 1979 amendment (P. L. 96-79) require that health planning be done on a regional basis so that the peculiar and particular needs of relatively homogeneous geographical areas can be addressed. In Louisiana, a division of three health service areas was made which incorporated state planning districts one and three into health service area I; state planning districts two, four, and five into health service area II; and state planning districts six, seven, and eight into health service area III. See Figure 3.2. Click Here To View Image
C.Section 1536 of the Health Planning and Development Act was modified in 1981 by Congress to permit governors to request that mandated health planning functions be conducted at the state level only. In December, 1981, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services recognized Louisiana as a "1536 state," which effected the dismantling of the Health Systems Agency (HSA) Network in the state. Effective March 31, 1982, the Mid-Louisiana HSA ceased external operation, followed by the closure of the New Orleans/Bayou-River HSA and the North Louisiana HSA on April 30, 1982.D. As a result of Louisiana's "1536" status, the Louisiana Health Planning and Development Agency must perform as though it is a health systems agency with the state being the health service area. However, local input must be included in the planning process.E. In determining geographic health planning areas, it was found to now be advantageous to use nine health planning regions. Utilizing nine regions allows for a more logical geographic breakdown, consistent with the geographic/demographic characteristics of the state. Consequently, interpretation and analysis of data in this document will be made on the basis of nine Health Planning Areas (See map in Figure 3.1).F. The ninth, planning region consists of St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes. This division appears to conform more closely to the natural regions of the state. It also reduces the undue influence of New Orleans bed resources on a population which must traverse a large lake to utilize health care services in the New Orleans area.La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-10303
Promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Management and Finance, LR 13:246 (April 1987).AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with P.L. 93-641 as amended by P.L. 96-79, and R.S. 36:256(b).