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The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) will host a free symposium on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Louisiana on Dec. 9, 2014. The symposium, which is open to parents, teachers, health care professionals and other stakeholders, will address the frequency of diagnosis, medication rates, and proper use of ADHD medications.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) announced today wider implementation of a document that makes it simpler for individuals to discuss and plan their own end-of-life care decisions with their physician. The form, called the Louisiana Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment or LaPOST, is a voluntary document that allows individuals to state their preferences for the kinds of care they would like to receive when facing a serious, advanced illness that may eventually limit their ability to speak or direct their own care. LaPOST encourages important communication between doctors and patients, enables patients to make informed decisions, and helps makes these decisions travel easily across care settings.
Gov. Bobby Jindal and officials with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), and Louisiana State Police (LSP) announced the ban of a new synthetic marijuana compound called "MAB-CHMINACA" today. The designer drug, sold under names such as Mojo and Spice, has been associated with more than 125 residents seeking treatment at Baton Rouge-area hospitals since Oct. 3. The ban adds the full chemical compound N-(1-amino-3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide to the list of Schedule 1 Controlled Dangerous Substances.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) announced five (5) new cases of West Nile virus this week, but no new deaths. Fall weekends in Louisiana often mean residents are out at the tailgate and big game, which can mean exposure to mosquitos that could carry the West Nile virus. DHH officials are reminding football fans that the best way to Fight the Bite is by wearing long sleeves and pants, and to use mosquito repellent when outside. Including the new cases from this week, there have been 135 cases of West Nile in Louisiana this year with six (6) of those resulting in death. Only one (1) of the cases tracked this week presented as neuroinvasive disease in Caddo Parish.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) today announced the recommendation of five managed care organizations (MCOs) to administer the next contract period for Bayou Health, which has transformed the way two-thirds of the state's Medicaid recipients receive health care services. All of the health plans selected will operate statewide.
As a participant of the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) is providing researchers, health experts, and the public access to data about how the environment affects public health through a new, online data network for Environmental Public Health Tracking. This new resource is located at lepht.dhh.la.gov and is Louisiana's comprehensive source of environmental data related to public health. Louisiana was one of 25 states to receive competitive funding from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop such a network. In August, the CDC awarded DHH with continuation funding, equipping the Department to continue updating and enhancing the tool over the next three years.
Today, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) announced a plan to stop billing sexual assault victims for exams and tests. In order to stop billing victims, the plan streamlines the funding source through the Crime Victim's Reparation Board (CVRB). Through legislation, these changes will prevent direct billing of charges to the victim by allowing hospitals to bill the Crime Victim's Reparation Board directly.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) announced two (2) new cases of West Nile virus this week, but no new deaths. While news of the Ebola virus has dominated national and local press in recent weeks, health care officials are urging Louisiana residents to pay close attention to West Nile virus and take the simple steps necessary to help prevent contracting it. Including the new cases from this week, there have been 130 cases of West Nile in Louisiana this year with six (6) of those resulting in death. Both of this week's new cases presented with fever.
Earlier this year, DHH submitted to CMS a revised state plan amendment (SPA) in response to an earlier denial by CMS of pending SPAs that governed payments to the public-private partnerships. DHH worked diligently to craft a new reimbursement methodology that addressed concerns raised by the federal agency.
Baton Rouge, La. -- The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) announced it is paying for two new services for Louisiana Medicaid recipients battling cancer to help improve health outcomes. As of July 1, 2014, Louisiana's Medicaid program began reimbursing for a genetic screening called Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay for Louisiana women diagnosed with early-stage invasive breast cancer and custom-fit compression garments for individuals who have undergone certain cancer treatments and are now experiencing the swelling symptoms caused by lymphedema.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) is asking caregivers in Louisiana to take extra precautions to protect their loved ones from contracting West Nile virus. Individuals with weakened immune systems are more likely to be impacted more severely by this virus that has impacted at least 128 individuals so far this year. This week, the Department is reporting one (1) death, and five new cases, three of which caused neuroinvasive disease.
Baton Rouge, La.-(October 7, 2014) - The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) has been notified by the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) that a case of rabies has been confirmed in a dog in the West Monroe area. DHH officials also confirmed a cat in Washington Parish was reported positive for rabies in September and that a dog was reported in Lafayette Parish in January.