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LDH News

• December 12, 2013

  DHH Implements New Internal Audit Processes

  The Department of Health and Hospitals announced today significant improvements to its internal audit division aimed at strengthening the programs and processes that serve to protect and promote health throughout the state. Four key changes to the internal audit process have been implemented, including new risk assessment surveys, the designation of a single audit coordinator, the hiring of a new investigator and an audit "strike team" that will address urgent audit needs within the Department.

• December 06, 2013

  Four Louisiana Hospitals Participate in Best Fed Beginnings breastfeeding quality improvement collaborative

  DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert visited Louisiana hospitals participating in the Best Fed Beginnings initiative this week to assess the progress made as each hospital approaches the final phase to become a designated “Baby Friendly” facility.

• December 05, 2013

  ICYMI: New Orleans Advocate Highlights ‘Best Fed Beginnings’ Program in Louisiana Hospitals

  The [Best Fed Beginnings] program’s major goal is to increase the number of breastfed babies. The $6 million initiative began last year and will conclude in September 2014. The 89 participating hospitals must complete the American Academy of Pediatrics-endorsed Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding program. By doing so, they will receive a “baby-friendly” designation from the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund.

• November 22, 2013

  Emergency Rule Ensures Enrollee Choice, Prohibits Provider Steering

  The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) adopted an emergency rule, effective Dec. 1, to comply with federal regulations, and protect Medicaid enrollees' right to choose how they receive their healthcare.

• November 21, 2013

  Promise Kept: Overhaul of Retail Food Inspections Ensuring Health and Safety of Consumers

  Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Kathy Kliebert and Public Health Assistant Secretary J.T. Lane joined industry leaders today in downtown Baton Rouge to highlight major changes to the Retail Food Inspection Program. Program improvements over the last year have allowed health inspectors who survey restaurants, grocery stores, cafeterias and other retail food vendors to conduct timely inspections at all permitted locations, track compliance orders and post survey results quickly to the EatSafe.La.gov website. This dramatic overhaul was identified by Office of Public Health staff through an internal review and with DHH’s requested assistance of recommendations from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

• November 13, 2013

  RFP for Ryan White Part B Core and Ancillary Services and Housing Opportunities for Persons Living with AIDS (HOPWA) Funding for People Living with HIV

  1. The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals from qualified proposers that provide community-based supportive services to low income persons living with HIV (PLWH).

• November 07, 2013

  DHH Issues Emergency Rule Requiring Drinking Water Systems in Louisiana to Raise the Level of Disinfectant in their Water, Increase Monitoring by 25 Percent

  The Department of Health and Hospitals on Wednesday issued an emergency rule requiring that water systems in the state maintain a higher residual disinfectant level and increase their number of sampling sites by 25 percent. Most drinking water systems in Louisiana will be required to meet this new higher standard by February 1, 2014.

• November 01, 2013

  West Nile virus is Still a Threat

  Despite the cooler temperatures, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) is reminding folks that West Nile virus is still a threat. This week, the state's health department confirmed three new cases of West Nile virus, bringing this year's total to 58 cases. This week's new infections are West Nile fever cases, with one each in Ascension, Lafayette and Ouachita parishes.

• November 01, 2013

  DHH Chief Compliance Officer William Root Honored with HHS Career Achievement Award

  Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) Chief Compliance Officer William Root was honored yesterday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for his dedicated service with the Career Achievement Award. Root retired from HHS earlier in 2013 as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Investigations before joining DHH to head up the Louisiana Medicaid Program Integrity Office.

• October 25, 2013

  DHH Confirms West Nile virus Death

  The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has confirmed the state's fourth West Nile virus death this year. The death is from Ouachita Parish, the second death from Ouachita Parish this year. The state's health department is also confirming four new West Nile virus cases this week, bringing this year's total to 55 cases. This week's new infections include two cases of neuroinvasive disease, one each in Acadia and Rapides parishes, and two cases of West Nile fever, with one each in Bossier and Caddo parishes.

• October 18, 2013

  DHH Announces New Interim Assistant Secretaries for the Offices of Behavioral Health and the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities

  The Department of Health and Hospitals announced today the appointment of two new interim assistant secretaries. Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham will serve as Interim Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health and Mark Thomas will assume the role of Interim Assistant Secretary for the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities. Searches will be conducted to fill both roles permanently by early 2014.

• October 18, 2013

  DHH Confirms West Nile Virus Death

  The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has confirmed the state's third West Nile virus death this year. The death is from Rapides Parish, and is the second death this year from Rapides Parish. In addition, the health department is also confirming three new West Nile virus cases this week, bringing this year's total number of cases to 51. This week's new infections include two cases of neuroinvasive disease in Lafayette Parish and one case of neuroinvasive in Ouachita Parish.