§1519.5. Powers of board

            A. The board as a body corporate shall have authority to exercise all power to direct, control, supervise, and manage the division and the hospitals, including without limitation each of the powers set forth in this Section.

            (1) Each such power shall be construed as in addition to and not in limitation of the powers inherent in the board and those set forth elsewhere in this Subpart.

            (2) Except as explicitly limited by the board, such powers may be exercised on its behalf by the chancellor of the LSU HSC-NO. The chancellor of the LSU HSC-NO may delegate any such powers to the chief executive officer of the division, who may further delegate them to individual hospital administrators.

            B. With respect to its operation of the division and the hospitals, the board shall have and may exercise all of the powers otherwise vested in it. Its powers shall include without limitation the power and right:

            (1) To represent the public interest in providing hospital and medical care in the region served.

            (2) To make, alter, amend, and implement rules and regulations governing the conduct of any hospital or medical facility under its administration.

            (3) To appoint a medical staff for each hospital, in accordance with the hospital's medical staff bylaws.

            (4) To appoint standing and special committees that may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Subpart.

            (5) To enter into such contracts and agreements with any state or federal agency or instrumentality or any other public or private party as may be necessary to procure aid, grants or other funding to assist the division and the hospitals in carrying out the purposes of this Subpart.

            (6) To perform comprehensive health planning in cooperation with other public or private institutions and agencies engaged in providing hospital and other health services to residents of the state.

            (7) To provide for coordination in the delivery of services provided by the LSU HSC-NO with those services provided by the Louisiana Department of Health, local health departments, federally qualified health centers, and other providers.

            (8) To perform other acts necessary or appropriate in order for the hospitals to qualify for accreditation by appropriate accrediting bodies, including the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

            (9) To operate or participate in managed care organizations or systems, including without limitation a Medicaid managed care plan and to operate or participate in conformity with federal managed care regulations and standards including but not limited to the regulations and standards for capital solvency, claims payments, and medical management, and to enter into contracts or create new entities as necessary to do so.

            (10) To perform any other acts necessary or appropriate for the carrying out of the objects and purposes of this Subpart.

            C. The board shall be subject to the laws relating to state procurement systems for supplies, equipment, and services and for professional, personal, consulting, or social services as stated in R.S. 39:1551 et seq. Furthermore, in accordance with R.S. 23:3023(A), the division shall in all cases give preference to individuals who are blind, under the administration of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, in the operation of vending stands, vending machines, and small concessions. No other vending stands, vending machines, or small concessions shall be operated on the same premises, nor shall any blind vendor be required to pay any fee, service charge, or equivalent thereof for the operation of a vending stand, vending machine, or other small concession.

            D. The board, or on its behalf the division, shall continue to enter into annual affiliation or other such agreements with other academic health centers or institutions that wish to continue such agreements.

            (1) Based upon the allocation of medical education resources as provided by R.S. 36:254(A)(14), the board, through the division, shall enter into annual agreements with other academic health centers or other institutions that have historically provided medical education services for a hospital.

            (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Subpart, the physicians, medical residents, and fellows of such an academic health center or institution shall have access to the respective hospital as provided in such agreement.

            (b) Such access shall include the right of the members of the faculty or staff of the academic health center or institution who are on the medical staff of the hospital to admit patients to the respective hospital and afford the academic health center or institution the availability of house officer training positions at the hospital as provided in the agreement.

            (2) The physician members of each such academic health center or institution shall provide supervision of its house officers at the respective hospital and shall provide professional services to the hospital, and the academic health center or institution shall be entitled to reimbursement for the services of its physicians, residents, and fellows, all as provided in the annual agreement.

            (3) Any academic health center, institution, or any of their physicians who treat patients at a hospital may bill third party payers, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs, for patient care services provided by such academic health center, institution, or physician or may receive payment for such services billed and collected by the hospital for such services in accordance with the annual agreement.

            (4) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Subpart to the contrary, the board shall respect the historic relationship between Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center and the Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation in medical residency and fellowship educational programs. The board shall continue, in accordance with this Subpart, to enter into annual agreements with Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation under which Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation shall continue to direct the medical residency and fellowship educational programs conducted at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center.

            E. Nothing in this Subpart shall restrict the authority inherent in the board or otherwise conveyed to it by law.

            Acts 1997, No. 3, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 2003, No. 906, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2010, No. 939, §1, eff. July 1, 2010.