Behavioral Health

The Louisiana Department of Health on Friday wrapped up a three-day Opioid Action Summit that brought together hundreds of healthcare providers, subject matter experts and addiction treatment providers who are dedicated to addressing the opioid epidemic.

Media is invited to join the Louisiana Department of Health's Opioid Action Summit's Town Hall discussion. The town hall session is open to the public. The summit is designed to bring awareness to and share ways to respond to the national opioid epidemic, which has had devastating consequences for Louisiana and the nation. In 2018, there were more than 450 opioid-involved deaths, a 184% increase over 2012. Staff from across the Department will appear alongside state and national experts on opioid abuse.

This September, the Louisiana Department of Health congratulates all Louisianans living a life in recovery. During Recovery Month, the Department of Health wants the public to know that recovery is possible by promoting resources that are available to anyone who needs help coping with an addiction or mental illness.

Media is invited to join the Louisiana Department of Health's Opioid Action Summit and Town Hall discussion. The town hall session on Friday is open to the public.

The charge of Act 158 of the 2015 Regular Legislative Session was to provide transparency relative to Medicaid managed care programs. Within the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), this involves the Coordinated System of Care (CSoC) program. Magellan Health Services of Louisiana, Inc. (Magellan) administers the CSoC program. This report outlines responses to the requests made by the legislature in Act 158 relative to Magellan's management of care within CSoC program.

In its most recent audit, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor reviewed the Louisiana Department of Health and identified a data systems issue that resulted in information not transmitted to the Department from its Medicaid managed care organizations.

The Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health has formed an advisory committee of stakeholders to assist in the development of a rating system for addiction treatment programs. Once complete, patients will be able to rate their providers and the ratings will be available publically giving patients another way to participate and make informed decisions about their care.

The Louisiana Department of Health is accepting comments through 11:59 p.m. CST on March 29, 2019 on developing a vision for a modern and comprehensive crisis system of care.

The system is intended to serve people who are experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis. A question-and-answer session will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 14 in Room 118 of the Bienville Building, 628 N. Fourth St., Baton Rouge.

Gov. John Bel Edwards has proclaimed March 2019 as Problem Gambling Awareness Month in Louisiana. The month-long observance promotes awareness of the resources available to those experiencing problems with gambling.