Office of the Secretary

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals continues to detect West Nile cases up to the year’s end, with state health officials reporting 11 new cases and one new death this week.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals uncovered 15 new West Nile cases this week, and reports one death from the disease. The State is experiencing its worst West Nile outbreak in a decade this year, and health care providers continue identifying new cases into the fall season.

Today, the State of Louisiana sent a letter to the federal Department of Health and Human Services declaring that the state declines to assume the risk of building a health insurance Exchange as outlined by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

The state’s worst year for West Nile virus in a decade continues into the fall season, with state health officials reporting 12 new cases and two deaths this week.

State health officials today confirmed six new West Nile cases, urging Louisiana residents to continue to Fight the Bite. No deaths from the disease occurred this week.

Tomorrow, Nov. 1, pharmacy becomes a benefit of three Medicaid Bayou Health Plans, with those plans assuming responsibility for helping members access pharmacy services, encouraging compliance with medication and driving use of the most clinically effective, least expensive drug available.

Today, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein announced adjustments to the Louisiana Medicaid program’s pharmacy reimbursement methodology.