Commission on Perinatal Care and Prevention of Infant Mortality

Name Commission on Perinatal Care and Prevention of Infant Mortality
Contact Person Yoruba Baltrip-Coleman - Bureau of Family Health, Perinatal Quality Boards Coordinator
Mailing Address 1450 Poydras Street
Room 2032
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone Number 504-568-3513
Fax Number 504-568-3503
Board Email PerinatalCommission@la.gov
Website https://ldh.la.gov/
Legal Authority Louisiana Revised Statute 40:2018
Year Created 1989
Organizational Placement Louisiana Department of Health
Purpose/Function This commission is responsible for researching and reviewing all state laws, regulations, guidelines, policies, and procedures that impact perinatal care and, where appropriate, making recommendations to the legislature and secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health. In addition, the Commission is responsible for providing a plan that the state can adopt to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies, sick infants, and infant mortalities.
Number of Entity Members: Number Authorized: 16
Number Currently Serving: 16
Number of Entity Meetings: Actual number in prior year: 6
Estimated number in current year: 6
The Entity is:
Active   Inactive   Not fully organized   Disbanded   Never fully organized
Do members receive per diem, salaries, and/or travel expense reimbursements?
Yes   No
Excluding member per diem, salaries, and travel expense reimbursements, does the entity receive or expend funds?
Yes   No
Entity Member Per Diem:
  Amount Authorized: $0      per meeting   per meeting day   per day spent on board business   None
Total entity member per diem:
  Prior year actual: $0.00
  Current year budgeted: $0.00
Entity Member Salaries:
  Prior year actual: $0.00
  Current year budgeted: $0.00
Entity Member Travel Expense Reimbursement:
  Prior year actual: $0.00
  Current year budgeted: $0.00
Number and Type of Authorized Employee Positions:
Classified: 0
Unclassified: 0
Part-time: 0
Entity Fiscal Year End:
4/30         7/31         10/31         Other (identify date)
6/30         9/30         12/31         None
Participation in State Employee Benefit Programs:
    Employees:
       participate in state retirement system(s) and/or state group insurance program(s)
       do not participate in state benefit programs

    Members:
       participate in state retirement system(s) and/or state group insurance program(s)
       do not participate in state benefit programs
A state agency provides: (Check all that apply and identify the state agency)
Per Diem Payments          State Agency:
Travel Reimbursements    State Agency: Louisiana Department of Health
Other (explain)    State Agency:
Is this entity a budget unit or included within a budget unit of the State of Louisiana as defined by LSA-R.S. 39:2?
   Yes    No
  If yes, identify the budget unit and the budget schedule number below:
  Budget Unit Name:
  Budget Schedule Number:
Notes The Perinatal Commission’s charge
1) Research and review all state regulations, guidelines, policies, and procedures that impact perinatal care and, when appropriate, make recommendations to the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.
2) Research and review all state laws that impact perinatal care and, when appropriate, make recommendations to the legislature.
3) Accept grants and other forms of funding to conduct maternal and infant mortality studies.
4) Contract, in accordance with the applicable provisions of state law, for the performance of maternal and infant mortality studies.

Perinatal Commission authorized projects
1) Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC)-provides support to hospitals for continuous quality improvement on perinatal outcomes.
2) Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review (PAMR)-reviews all deaths in women during or within one year of pregnancy, and crafts recommendations for how to prevent future deaths.
3) Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR)-reviews unexpected fetal and infant to better understand why these deaths occur and how to prevent them.

Perinatal Commission-centered activities
1) Create actionable, comprehensive recommendations to prevent future maternal deaths; Contribute to the advancement of policies and the of evidence-based best practices that improve maternal outcomes and levels of care in state birthing facilities; and, Analyze opportunities to advance maternal health and care.
2) Analyze issues related to the prevention and treatment of complications for newborns associated with maternal substance use in birthing facilities; Monitor issues related to medication to prevent premature births; and, Advance policies to reduce the infant mortality rate and the number of babies born with low birth weight.
3) Create specific workgroups to improve maternal and infant health; monitor and inform on maternal child health legislation and policy.
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