Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 8. Source pages: 9.
The new law allows certain offenders to earn additional
credits toward the reduction of the projected good time parole supervision date.
Prior law provides that an offender may be awarded up to 360 days toward the reduction of the projected good time parole supervision date for participation in certified treatment and rehabilitation programs. Prior law further provides that offenders who participate in a workforce development release program shall be eligible to earn an additional 180 days of credit toward the reduction of the projected good time parole supervision date.
The new law allows offenders who earn a bachelor's degree or a master's degree from a regionally accredited and a Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections approved educational institution to earn an additional 90 days of credit toward the reduction of the projected good time parole supervision date.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 8. Source pages: 10.
Senator Luneau's Act 204 Tightens Requirements on Managed Care Organizations
The new law, Act 204, decreases the maximum length of time for a managed care organization (MCO) to complete a credentialing process once it receives all the information needed for credentialing from 90 days to 60 days.
The new law also decreases from 60 days to 45 days the time limit after an MCO makes a request for any needed verification or verification supporting statement for the MCO to inform an applicant that the requested documentation has not been received.
The new law provides that a healthcare provider shall be considered credentialed, recredentialed, or approved and will receive payment according to the Medicaid fee schedule if an MCO fails to act within 60 days of receipt of all information needed for credentialing.
New law requires that employees, contractors, and subcontractors of MCOs performing work or services related to the performance or supervision of audits, prior authorization determinations, and clinical reviews of mental health rehabilitation services providers shall receive annual training on all of the following:
(1) The state's Medicaid Behavioral Health Provider Manual.
(2) The relevant state laws, policies, and regulations related to the state's mental health rehabilitation program.
The new law requires that employees, contractors, and subcontractors of MCOs shall take all necessary steps to ensure mental health rehabilitation services providers are rostered, credentialed, or otherwise eligible to provide and be reimbursed for mental health rehabilitation services in accordance with prior law.
Prior law provided that any individual rendering psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) services who does not possess the minimum bachelor's degree required in prior law, but who met all provider qualifications in effect prior to July 1, 2018, may continue to provide PSR services for the same provider agency.
Prior law required that prior to the individual rendering PSR services at a different agency, he must comply with the provisions of prior law relative to eligibility for receiving Medicaid reimbursement effective on and after July 1, 2018. The new law revises prior law to provide that any individual rendering PSR services who does not possess the minimum bachelor's degree required in prior law, but who met all provider qualifications in effect prior to July 1, 2018, may continue to provide those services for any licensed and accredited provider agency.
The new law requires that a mental health rehabilitation services provider has a right to an independent review of an adverse determination taken by a managed care organization that results in a recoupment of the payment of a claim based on a finding of waste or fraud.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 8. Source pages: 11.
Existing law, Part III-A of Chapter 1 of Title 28 of the La. R.S., provides relative to civil involuntary outpatient treatment for persons suffering from mental illness; for petitions for court orders authorizing involuntary outpatient treatment; and for procedures of courts with respect to such petitions. Act 329 makes changes to prior law, including the following as described in the Digest:
New law changes the term "patient" to "respondent" throughout existing law.
New law deletes prior law which required that a person's history of noncompliance with mental health treatment result in certain outcomes in order to qualify him for court-ordered involuntary outpatient treatment.
New law provides that the person's history of noncompliance with mental health treatment, ipso facto, qualifies him for court-ordered involuntary outpatient treatment pursuant to existing law and new law.
Prior law provided that a petition to obtain an order authorizing involuntary outpatient treatment may be initiated by several authorized persons including any interested person through counsel with written concurrence of the coroner in the jurisdiction in which the person is found. New law deletes from prior law the requirement for written concurrence of the coroner.
New law requires the coroner in the jurisdiction in which the respondent was found to provide a written concurrence to the allegations for the respondent's involuntary outpatient treatment if ordered by the court.
New law defines "interested person" as anyone of legal age who has an interest in the outcome of a particular case, which may include but shall not be limited to any adult relative or friend of the respondent, any official or representative of a public or private agency, corporation, or association that is concerned with the respondent's welfare, or any other person found suitable by the court.
New law adds to existing law items of information to be included in petitions to the court for orders authorizing involuntary outpatient treatment.
New law requires that as soon as is practical after the filing of the petition for an order authorizing involuntary outpatient treatment, the court shall review the petition and supporting documents and determine whether there exists probable cause to believe that the respondent is suffering from mental illness which renders him unlikely to voluntarily participate in the recommended treatment and, in view of the treatment history and current behavior of the respondent, he is in need of involuntary outpatient treatment to prevent a relapse or deterioration which would be likely to result in him becoming dangerous to self or others or gravely disabled as defined in existing law.
New law requires that if the court determines that probable cause exists, it shall appoint a physician, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, or psychologist to examine the respondent and to furnish a report provided for in existing law (Physician's Report to Court) and testify at the hearing.
New law requires that the report set forth specifically the objective factors leading to the conclusion that the person has a mental illness that renders him unlikely to voluntarily participate in the recommended treatment and, in view of the treatment history and current behavior of the respondent, he is in need of involuntary outpatient treatment to prevent a relapse or deterioration which would be likely to result in harm of self or others or him becoming gravely disabled defined in existing law.
New law stipulates that the report shall also include recommendations for a treatment plan. New law revises existing law concerning procedures of courts with respect to petitions for orders authorizing involuntary outpatient treatment.
New law adds a requirement stating that when a physician, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, or psychologist determines the respondent has failed to comply with the ordered treatment, the local governing entity, case manager, or treatment provider shall make reasonable efforts to solicit the compliance of the respondent.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 8. Source pages: 11.
Act 3 Allows for Donations to Sexual Trauma Awareness & Response Org
The governor signed HB 12 into law creating Act 3, which allows for an individual income tax checkoff for donations to the Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response (STAR) organization.
An individual can donate all or a portion of his state income tax refund to the Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response (STAR) organization in lieu of that amount being paid as a refund. Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response® is a nonprofit organization committed to serving youth and adult survivors of sexual trauma and building institutional capacity to prevent and respond responsibly to sexual violence in the community, according to the website.
Officials state: "Our organization’s roots are in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where we began as the Stop Rape Crisis Center, a division of the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office, in 1975. In 1979, the center was recognized as “An Exemplary Project” by the U.S. Department of Justice and what began as a grassroots initiative comprised of several volunteers, advocates and allies committed to establishing support services for rape survivors quickly became nationally recognized."
STAR® currently serves a wide population of survivors, including children who have been sexually abused, adults who were sexually abused as children, and those who have faced sexual harassment, sexual battery and assault, rape and attempted rape.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 8. Source pages: 11.
Act 29 Helps Youngsters Falling Behind Due to Covid-19 Issues
Act 29 requires public schools, for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years, to provide expanded academic support to each student in grades four through eight who failed to achieve mastery on any statewide assessment administered pursuant to the state's school and district accountability system during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years. New law requires each city, parish, or other local public school board to develop an education plan and supporting budget to provide expanded academic support to students using federal funds provided for educational relief relative to COVID-19.
The new law allows a student identified as needing expanded academic support to be provided accelerated instruction or prioritized placement in a class taught by a teacher labeled as "highly effective" pursuant to the state's teacher evaluation system, if a highly effective teacher is available in the school.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Dr. Amy Mikolajewski Honored as 2021 Early Career Psychologist by Louisiana Psych Assn
Amy Mikolajewski, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Tulane University School of Medicine was recently named the 2021 Early Career Psychologist by the Louisiana Psychological Association.
"Amy is a first rate clinician and scholar," said Dr. Laurel Franklin, awards chair for the Association, "which is best evidenced by her ability to secure funding at such an early stage of her career. As a postdoctoral research fellow at Tulane she secured a prestigious NIH K award- the first to be awarded at her facility since prior to hurricane Katrina."
Paul Frick, PhD, the Roy Crumpler Memorial Chair in the Department of Psychology at Louisiana State University, said, "Amy is an extremely well- deserving recipient of this award. Her research on the temperamental and parental influences on childhood behavior problems is extremely important and earned her a prestigious K-award from the National Institute of Mental Health. The state of Louisiana is lucky to have her in the state and her work will greatly advance both science and the potential well-being of Louisiana families."
Dr. Mikolajewski's research focuses on externalizing disorders over the lifespan, with a particular interest in biological, dispositional, and environmental correlates. She is the recipient and PI of the NIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development grant for her project, "Psychophysiology and Social Processes in Very Young Children with Externalizing Problems."
"My current research is focused on understanding the biological and social processes underlying early childhood disruptive behaviors," she said. "I hope to build upon this work to examine the stability and predictive ability of these factors over time. In other words, are the biological and social processes that we're identifying useful for predicting later behavior? And how can we use that information to tailor treatment for young children with disruptive behaviors and prevent negative outcomes?
"In the meantime, I will continue to use our best empirically supported treatments to treat children with disruptive behaviors. I know my clinical work informs my research and hopefully, down the road, my research will also provide insights into ways to further strengthen our empirically- based treatment approaches"
Examples of Dr. Mikolajewski's publications include:
"Employing the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) Model and predicting successful completion in an alternative drug court program: Preliminary findings from the Orleans Parish Drug Court." In Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, with Allan, N., Merrill, L., Carter, M., Manguno-Mire, G.;
"An epidemiologic study of COVID-19 patients in a state psychiatric hospital: High penetrance rate despite following initial CDC guidelines." In Psychiatric Services, with Thompson, J.W., Kissinger, P., McCrossen, P., Smither, A., Chamarthi, G. D., Lin, Z., Tian, D.;
"Psychometric properties of a semi-structured interview to assess limited prosocial emotions." In Assessment, with Walker, T. M., Frick, P. J., Matlasz, T., Robertson, E. L., Mitchell, C, Lopez-Duran, N., Monk, C., Hyde, L. W.; "The Developmental Propensity Model extends to oppositional defiant disorder: A twin study." In Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, with Hart, S. A., & Taylor, J.; and
"Examining the prospective relationship between pre-disaster respiratory sinus arrhythmia and post-disaster posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in children." In Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, with Scheeringa, M.
Dr. Mikolajewski's work also includes book chapters on "Antisocial Personality Disorder" in Encyclopedia of Adolescence, and numerous presentations including, "Trauma type, baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and oppositional defiant disorder dimensions," presented at the Society for Research in Child Development; "Risk assessment in the context of conditional release decision-making: Outcomes and future directions," presented at the American Psychology and Law Society; and "Pre-disaster salivary cortisol prospectively predicts post-disaster posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in children," presented at the Society for Research in Child Development.
Included in her poster presentations are topics such as, "Differences in substance use trajectories across treatment tracks in the Orleans Parish Drug Court," presented at the American Psychology and Law Society, and "The developmental propensity model extends to oppositional defiant disorder," presented at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
She is the recipient and PI of the NIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development grant for her project, "Psychophysiology and Social Processes in Very Young Children with Externalizing Problems."
How does she feel about this award? "To receive recognition for my work in this group is such an honor," she said. "I am so grateful for the encouragement and support," said Dr. Mikolajewski.
"For me, all the steps along the way to becoming a clinical psychologist have been meaningful accomplishments, from getting into grad school, to publishing articles, to getting licensed, to getting hired as faculty. You have to celebrate all the good stuff! The accomplishment I am most proud of is being awarded an NIH Career Development Award. It is very rewarding to work hard on a grant application and have experts in your field see the value in your plans and ideas. That said, I could not have done it alone. My mentors, Dr. Michael Scheeringa and Dr. Paul Frick, as well as numerous other consultants and colleagues have been incredibly helpful and generous with their time. Building an amazing network and being surrounded by brilliant scholars has been one of the best parts of the job."
Amy Mikolajewski, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Tulane University School of Medicine was recently named the 2021 Early Career Psychologist by the Louisiana Psychological Association. (courtesy photo)
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 8. Source pages: 16.
Gathering to Celebrate Dr. Tom Hannie, Thursday, September 2, in Baton Rouge
There will be a celebration of life gathering in honor of Dr.
Tom Hannie on September 2 at 7 PM, said Trey Hannie, Dr. Hannie's son. The gathering will be at Serop’s on Corporate Boulevard in Baton Rouge.
The gathering will be informal and everyone is invited, and encouraged to bring their stories and enjoy time together, said Trey. Trey also said that Tom asked for this specifically in his will.
Trey Hannie said that he expects that friends, family, and colleagues will all enjoy the time together and the stories of his father.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 8. Source pages: 2.
by Julie Nelson Usually I'm horrified by the legislative group process. However, the recent conflict over women's athletics leaves me with an unfamiliar feeling–– that the checks and balances actually worked.
I was thankful to see a very complex and difficult topic discussed thoughtfully in most cases. The transgender issues are very delicate matters for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the vulnerability and fragility of this group of people.
Despite this and other challenges to open discussion, I was impressed with many of the legislators who seemed to handle the matter with consideration, respect for both world views, and a regard for fairness of the law.
The process of checks and balances appears to have worked. The original bill was passed by both chambers with a supermajority, then vetoed by the Governor. An historic veto session was called where the Senate overcame the veto, barely. But in the end, the House failed to override by two votes. Basically a cliffhanger, with the outcome of no new law. It was not wasted effort. People are thinking, paying attention. Both sides were heard even though the talk was extremely careful around the issue of biological sexuality, discrimination, and reverse discrimination.
Hope lies in the process. We are a little more desensitized to openly discussing the different perspectives. We are a little closer to developing a consensus—a shared view of reality. We are a little more patient with one another, with the time and energy needed for the therapeutic process of resolving conflicts.
But I was struck by one other thing in particular. In a committee meeting on transgender therapy issues a letter from a professional counselor was read. The author pointed to concerns about the mental health profession's culture:
“As it pertains to gender related issues, many mental health professionals feel stifled when it comes to advocating for the health and welfare of children and adolescents for fear of retribution from their employers, third-party payers, professional organizations, state licensing boards and colleagues.
“I’ve had many conversations over the course of two decades with mental health providers for an agreement of this type of legislation but do not express it for fear of retribution.
"Organizations like the ACA and the LCA have drafted letters that target your bill. These organizations do not necessarily represent all counselors regarding this issue., But only one side of the discussion. As a matter of fact, discussion regarding this issue isn’t even entertained."
I couldn't agree more.
"Science can flourish only in an atmosphere of free speech." –– Albert Einstein.
[Julie Nelson is a licensed psychologist, journalist, consultant, and publisher of the Times. She also holds other positions in the community. However, her opinions here are those of her own, and do not represent any group or association. She and the Times receive no compensation other than paid advertising. Email her at drj@drjulienelson.com, ––she welcomes feedback.]
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 8. Source pages: 3.
In a July 20 press release, U.S. Congressman Garret Graves said he is demanding answers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency regarding the number of immigrants and asylum- seekers that have been dropped off by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Louisiana. He said that what started as a crisis at the borders has now turned into a "crisis in our communities."
Graves wrote Acting Director Johnson, stating, "I am extremely concerned about emerging reports of federal authorities dropping off immigrants at airports and bus stops in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana. These detainees are reportedly being released from federal detention centers and transported across the state with little more than what ICE has called a 'temporary support plan.' "This approach is not only disorganized and illogical, but it also blatantly disregards the well-being and safety of these individuals and the communities they are being bussed to. Given the strain placed on state, local, and non-governmental organizations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, transferring responsibility for these detainees onto unsuspecting communities is a gross miscarriage of justice."
Graves ask for information, including the following: 1) Information about the number of immigrants and asylum-seekers that have been dropped off; 2) Any planned future transfers to transit facilities in Louisiana, […] 5) The cost to taxpayers associated with providing translators, food, water, clothing, housing, and other emergency support services to these detainees; […]
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 7. Source pages: 3.
The Department of Health published a rule in the June Louisiana Register, in order to continue the provisions of the March 16, 2020 Emergency Rule. "… Medicaid may temporarily cover services provided through the use of an interactive audio telecommunications system, without the requirement of video, if such action is determined to be necessary to ensure sufficient services are available to meet recipients' needs."
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 7. Source pages: 4.
On June 17, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness announced an additional $136 million dollars in FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding has been allocated for Louisiana parishes impacted by Hurricanes Laura and Delta. This is the latest installment in HMGP funding that will be added to the $40 million dollar allocation announced in November, bringing the total to $176 million, according to the press release. Funding through the federal HMGP can be used on projects that potentially save lives and reduce property loss. Working with local partners, the goal is to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property by lessening the impact of a disaster, noted the release. On June 30, Gov. Edwards announced more than $315 million in federal coronavirus relief aid will be allocated to 290 Louisiana towns and cities under the American Rescue Plan to help them respond to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency and support economic recovery. "The American Rescue Plan provided vital aid for communities large and small all across Louisiana that are still working to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and we will work at the state level to support these communities," Gov. Edwards said. The funding is divided among the 290 municipalities and localities in Louisiana that did not get direct allocations in the American Rescue Plan, because of their size. Larger communities, such as Alexandria, Baton Rouge, or New Orleans, are not funded through this program. The program is administered by Louisiana's Division of Administration in compliance with federal guidance.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 7. Source pages: 5.
Gov. Edward signed HB 375 into the new law, Act 1. The new law allows victims of sexual assault to receive early termination of their residential leases. "I am proud to have signed HB 375 by Rep. Freeman into law, making it Act 1 of the 2021 Legislative Session," said Gov. Edwards. "This bill is a great step forward in helping sexual assault survivors gain independence and protection under the law, and I applaud Rep. Freeman for bringing this legislation forward." The individual will need to (1) Assert in writing to the lessor that the lessee is a victim of sexual assault and requests an early termination; (2) Provide reasonable documentation of a sexual assault within the prior six months; (3) Assert in writing that the lessee shall not willingly and voluntarily permit the sexual offender further access to, visitation on, or occupancy of the lessee's residential dwelling unit; and (4) Fulfill all requirements of a lessee under the lease agreement. The new law provides that the lessor shall be entitled to an immediate eviction of a sexual assault offender upon presenting reasonable documentation of the assault. Proposed law provides that the lessee shall vacate the residential property by the date agreed upon to avoid liability for future rent.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 7. Source pages: 6.
The new law retains prior law, providing for the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board (board) including the membership, officers, meetings, and powers and duties of the board. The prior law provided that members of the board shall serve at the pleasure of the governor and a vacancy in an unexpired term shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment. The new law provides that each member of the board shall be appointed for a term of four years and that a vacancy in an unexpired term shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term. The original law that created the board included terms of three years, four years, and five years.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 7. Source pages: 6.
Gov. Edwards signed HB 379 by Rep. White into Act 73, a measure about public health programs and services related to Alzheimer's disease and other dementias Act 73 states that the legislature is aware of the importance of early detection and timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment and dementia. The new law provides that it is in the public interest that information be provided to better understand Alzheimer's disease and other dementia diseases and increase awareness. Also, it states that it is public policy of the state that the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) provide consistent guidance and effective education programs to healthcare providers across the state. Act 73 provides that LDH may educate healthcare providers on the following: (1) The importance of effective care planning, including treatment options, support and services, long-term care options, advanced directives, and care at every stage of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia diseases to include appropriate counseling. (2) The use of validated cognitive assessment tools. The new law states that the LDH office of public health may provide information that does all of the following: (1) Increases awareness of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia diseases including any link to chronic disease, such as vascular risk factors. (2) Advises the public of the value of early detection of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia diseases along with information on the early signs of such diseases. (3) Educates the public on the importance of identifying and reporting signs of Alzheimer's disease and other dementia diseases to healthcare providers for timely diagnosis. (4) Increases data and surveillance applicable to Alzheimer's disease and other dementia diseases and encourages additional data analysis and accurate reporting on death certificates. Further Act 73 provides that LDH shall consult with and seek input from the Louisiana chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, along with other experts, advocates, or associations, when promulgating such rules and regulations.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 7. Source pages: 6.
The Louisiana Sexual Assault Oversight Commission has a mission to 1. Develop recommendations for a standardized sexual assault collection kit. 2. Develop recommended protocols for forensic medical examinations of sexual assault victims. 3. Develop recommendations of appropriate entities to perform sexual assault examinations. 4. Office of Attorney General to adopt all rules necessary to implement the recommendations. Act 188 updates the Commission, "…hereby created within the Department of Justice, office of the attorney general." Act 188 adds the president of Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response to the members and the meeting schedule.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.