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LDH News

• November 14, 2014

  State Implements Tool for End-of-Life Care Planning

  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.

• October 29, 2014

  Gov. Jindal and State Officials Ban New Synthetic Marijuana Compound

  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.

• October 29, 2014

  EMERGENCY RULE: Minimum Disinfectant Residual Levels in Public Water Systems – Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 51:XII

  The emergency rule makes changes to LAC 51:XII.Chapters 3, 9, 11 and 15 regarding the need to increase the minimum disinfectant residual levels and measurements required to be maintained and taken by public water systems. Among other items addressed, the rule clarifies that daily residual measurements are required at the point of maximum residence time in the distribution system and records of chlorine residual measurements taken in the distribution system, besides from the treatment plant(s) itself, shall be recorded and kept by the public water system for a minimum of 10 years. This necessity comes in light of scientific data and recommendation from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relative to the control of the amoeba parasite which has, thus far, been found in four public water systems within Louisiana.

• October 29, 2014

  EMERGENCY RULE: Controlled Dangerous Substance

  In accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, (R.S. 49:950, et seq.), the Department of Health and Hospitals issued the attached emergency rule (hereinafter "ER'"), amending Chapter 27 (Controlled Dangerous Substances) Part LIII (Phannacists) of Title 46 (Professional and Occupational Standards) of the Louisiana Administrative Code. This action was taken pursuant to the emergency rulemaking authority granted by R.S. 40:4(A)(l3), together with other authority(s) cited in the ER.

• October 28, 2014

  DHH Offers Take Charge Plus for Males and Females

• October 24, 2014

  DHH Reminds Residents that the Most Important Tailgate Supply Could Be Mosquito Repellent

  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.

• October 24, 2014

  DHH Announces Five Contract Recommendations for Next Phase of Bayou Health

  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.

• October 22, 2014

  New Data Network Promises to Benefit Researchers

  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.

• October 20, 2014

  DHH Announces Plan to Stop Billing Sexual Assault Victims for Exams and Tests

  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.

• October 17, 2014

  Two New Cases of West Nile Virus Reported in Louisiana, No New Deaths

  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.

• October 17, 2014

  DHH Submits Revised and Executed Hospital Partnership Agreements to CMS

  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.

• October 16, 2014

  State Medicaid Paying for New Services for Louisiana Residents Fighting Cancer

  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.