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Baton Rouge -- More children with developmental disabilities are getting help than ever before through EarlySteps, Louisiana’s Early Intervention System administered through the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. As of July 1, 2004, EarlySteps was providing services for 4,317 developmentally delayed infants, toddlers and their families.
Baton Rouge --- The Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health has reopened Fontainebleau State Park Beach for swimming and water recreation. The decision was made after water samples taken in the past week showed the area’s water quality has improved to within Louisiana’s BEACH program bacteriological water quality standards.
Baton Rouge --- The Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health has rescinded the swimming advisory for two beach areas at Grand Isle State Park. The decision was made after water samples taken during the past two weeks showed the area’s water quality has improved sufficiently to meet Louisiana’s BEACH program bacteriological water quality compliance standards.
Baton Rouge --- Approximately 50,000 Louisiana residents in 13 underserved communities now have increased access to primary and preventive health care services as a result of the Med Job Louisiana provider recruitment program. In its first year of statewide implementation, Med Job Louisiana has successfully recruited 16 new primary care providers to rural communities.
Baton Rouge –A 2004 report on tobacco sales to minors reveals Louisiana Regional Noncompliance Rates Region I (New Orleans): 6.93 percent Region II (Baton Rouge): 2.63 percent Region III (Thibodaux/ Houma): 3.23 percent Region IV (Lafayette): 6.93 percent Region V (Lake Charles): 9.76 percent Region VI (Alexandria): 7.14 percent Region VII (Shreveport): 21.74 percent Region VIII (Monroe): 3.39 percent Region IX (Mandeville): 5.26 percent Region X (Jefferson Parish): 7.42 percent continues doing a good job of extinguishing youth access to cigarettes and other tobacco products. Overall, the state has a noncompliance [selling tobacco to minors] rate of 7.4 percent, reflecting the access youth under 18 years old have to tobacco products and to places that sell tobacco. This is one of the lowest noncompliance rates in the nation.
Mercury and Fish Advisories Issued for 9 WaterwaysBaton Rouge – The Louisiana Departments of Health and Hospitals, Environmental Quality and Wildlife and Fisheries today issued a series of fish consumption advisories for seven bodies of water. In addition, the agencies have revised two existing advisories, expanding the geographical boundaries of the advisory area to include additional waters.
Baton Rouge --- G.B. Cooley, a Monroe-based company that operates a variety of services for individuals with developmental disabilities, has voluntarily withdrawn as a provider from the Medicaid Supervised Independent Living Program.
Baton Rouge -- Based on samples collected, water quality at the following beach was determined to be Out of Compliance with Louisiana’s BEACH program bacteriological water quality standards.
Baton Rouge --- In its sixth year of existence, the Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) has hit the “century mark.” The 100,061 children currently enrolled in LaCHIP are children whose parents earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid and would not otherwise be eligible for state-funded health insurance.
Baton Rouge – Louisiana communities now can access all health related grant funding available in state through an online searchable database launched in mid-May by the Department of Health and Hospital’s Bureau of Primary Care and Rural Health (the Bureau). The Grants Clearinghouse, available through the Bureau’s Web site at www.dhh.state.la.us/pcrh, catalogues all health-related funding opportunities available from state and federal agencies as well as private foundations.
Baton Rouge --- June 27 is National HIV Testing Day, an occasion aimed at increasing awareness about HIV/AIDS and encouraging people to get tested and know their HIV status. Tests will be offered at sites throughout the country, and at many places throughout Louisiana.
Baton Rouge --- The ongoing process to reform health care delivery and services for the state will move forward next week, with the first meeting of the Governor’s recently appointed Health Care Reform Panel. Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco announced last week the panel’s first meeting as Thursday, June 24 in New Orleans.