Healthy Louisiana

Up to 80 percent of heroin users reported beginning their addiction by misusing prescription opioids. In its continuing efforts to address the opioid epidemic in Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Health is hosting a Lunch & Learn where medical, pharmacy and behavioral health experts will discuss the current status of prescription opioid use and abuse in Louisiana.

RFI for Provider-Led Accountable Care Organizations

The Louisiana Department of Health and the state's Medicaid program are in one of the strongest financial positions in six years, after the state opted to expand Medicaid through the federal Affordable Care Act, a new report shows.

By any reasonable standard, the expansion of Medicaid in Louisiana appears to be a success.

The Louisiana Medicaid Expansion program has reached a new milestone. To date, more than 326,000 new members have enrolled in Louisiana Medicaid Expansion and over 24,000 of those members have received preventative care visits with a provider.

New policies allow for coverage of breast reconstruction post mastectomy and genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer

Three years into Obamacare and it seems as if much of the news is bad: private insurers exiting the exchanges, networks being narrowed, premiums rising and competition dwindling out of existence.

“As the son of a retired emergency room nurse, I know how critical it is for a community to have access to immediate care,” said Gov. Edwards. “While this mission has been a priority for me and many other local officials, it’s the voices of the people in this community that should be credited the most for making this day happen. I am grateful to everyone involved in making this new emergency room possible, especially Our Lady of the Lake and the community leaders who have carried this fight for nearly a year and a half.”

While Louisiana is making progress in its insurance coverage gap with the expansion of Medicaid for the working poor, is there going to be a health services gap?

Nearly 12,000 adults, newly enrolled in Medicaid, have received preventative health care services since Medicaid eligibility was expanded on July 1. In addition, more than 305,000 new members have enrolled in the program.