Naegleria Fowleri

Health Blog

How Prevalent is Opioid Abuse?

Healthy Louisiana Coverage

What is Zika virus?

Naegleria Fowleri

Naegleria folweri is an ameba that occurs naturally in fresh water. In rare instances, it can be found in drinking water. The Louisiana Department of Health routinely tests for Naegleria fowleri in local water systems during the summer months. Click here for important facts and safety information.

Health Blog

The Department of Health is launching a new blog! Follow us at ladepthealth.blogspot.com for the latest updates on what our department is doing to improve the health of Louisiana residents.

How Prevalent is Opioid Abuse?

Opioid abuse is a problem in Louisiana where almost all indicators…addiction to opioid medications, overdose deaths, emergency room admissions and over-prescribing…are evidence of the problem.

Healthy Louisiana Coverage

Medicaid Expansion is now making Healthy Louisiana a reality. Since beginning enrollment on July 1, 2016 for working adults who are now eligible for health care coverage, hundreds of thousands of people have signed up for coverage and are now getting primary care and screenings that prevent serious illnesses and costly treatments.

Visit our dashboard for enrollment details and statistics.

What is Zika virus?

Zika virus is an infectious disease spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week.

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Recent News
State Agencies to Host Regional Health Care Provider Workforce Summits
July 05, 2017
Hiring qualified workers has been a continuing challenge for health care businesses that provide home and community-based services. In response, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) will host a series of Workforce Summits in July to help providers who deliver services to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and the aging population.
Medicaid Expansion Annual Report
June 30, 2017
As of June 26, 2017, more than 433,000 Louisiana residents who lacked coverage for essential health care services a year ago, now have coverage because of Medicaid expansion. More important than having coverage is using the coverage to visit a primary care doctor for an annual check-up, having prescription coverage and being covered for wellness visits and screenings.
LDH Confirms Naegleria Fowleri Ameba in North Monroe, Schriever Water Systems
June 29, 2017
Routine drinking water testing by the Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri, an ameba that occurs naturally in freshwater, in Ouachita Parish’s North Monroe Water System and Terrebonne Parish’s Schriever Water System.
Update: Hepatitis C Drug Pricing
June 27, 2017
I want to thank everyone who submitted thoughtful comments on these recommendations for expanding access to Hepatitis C treatments in Louisiana.
Medicaid expansion working
June 26, 2017
If Medicaid expansion ends, the uninsured will go back to hospital emergency rooms for their health care. Cassidy said that means society pays the rest of the bill for the uninsured because the hospitals will shift the remaining costs to the privately insured who end up paying higher health care premiums.
Gov. Edwards Applauds the Trump Administration for Naming Louisiana One of the Toughest States on Fighting Medicaid Fraud
June 07, 2017
Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that the Trump Administration’s Office of Inspector General Department of Health and Human Services audit has found that Louisiana’s Medicaid program has complied with the federal fraud reporting requirements, has the proper procedures in place to report fraud and is not in need of any recommendations for improvement. Louisiana is one of only four states to pass this audit since 2014.