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Louisiana’s electronic system for tracking childhood immunizations has received the highest award from the American Immunization Registry Association for its excellent service during Hurricane Katrina.
Thousands of people have incurred medical costs since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and have no way to pay these bills. Relief for these individuals is now available.
Starting this week, people with health coverage through Louisiana Medicaid or the Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) and who are enrolled in similar programs in other states as a result of being displaced by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita will receive notice that they will no longer be covered by Louisiana Medicaid.
Individuals who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina are urged to contact the Find Family National Call to determine if they are being classified as a missing person. In addition, family members, friends and relatives who once called the Center to report a missing person, and who have since found that person, are also asked to call the Center.
Beginning this weekend, New Orleans will see a surge of tourists and visitors to the city for Mardi Gras. The Department of Health and Hospitals has worked with the New Orleans City Health Department, the federal Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Louisiana Hospital Association and LSU medical system to provide medical treatment in the area.
Recovered Bodies – At this time, state officials, working in conjunction with coroners from local parishes, have recovered 1,103 bodies.
When the bell at the Find Family National Call Center finished ringing at 1:24 p.m. yesterday afternoon, 10 more missing people had been found, and the total number of people missing because of Hurricane Katrina had fallen to below 2,000.
Recovered Bodies – At this time, state officials, working in conjunction with coroners from local parishes, have recovered 1,103 bodies. This is an increase from 1,102 recovered bodies reported on Feb. 8, 2006.
Childhood immunization rates at Louisiana parish health units increased for 2005. Based on data from parish health unit assessments, 66 percent of children ages 19 – 35 months were up to date on their immunizations. This is an increase from 2004, when the average was 54 percent.
In spite of the destruction of ninety percent of local agency warehouses, distribution buildings and food supply, and the loss of many staff members and clientele, the Louisiana Commodity Supplemental Food Program is resuming many of its pre-storm operations. The program, which is the largest of its kind in the nation, provides monthly food packages for qualified low-income people.
Health care stakeholders from Cameron, Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes will meet Thursday, Feb. 9, to develop regional health care plans and competitive funding proposals to access federal and state resources to rebuild the primary health care systems destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The Department of Health and Hospitals today reports two milestones have been achieved at the Victim Identification Center in Carville. According to Dr. Louis Cataldie, state medical examiner, the number of unidentified human remains is now less than 100, with one of the newly identified being the body of Mrs. Ethel Herbert.