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The U.S. Coast Guard has reopened some water bodies affected by a major oil spill in the Calcasieu Estuary for boating traffic. However, the Department of Health and Hospitals reminds citizens that although the areas have reopened for boating, they are still advised not to swim or fish in areas affected by the oil spill.
Officials with the Department of Health and Hospitals today announced they have developed a process where Medicaid caseworkers will have direct access to the Vital Records Registry system to verify citizenship for Medicaid applicants and enrollees.
On June 19, 2006 a major oil spill occurred in the Calcasieu Estuary. People engaging in recreational activities in waterways south of the four corners intersection, located at light 92, which includes Calcasieu Lake to the coast, need to be aware of the oil spill and take the following precautions:
A new federal law that goes into effect July 1 will mandate that all people applying for Medicaid will be required to provide documents proving both U.S. citizenship and identity. All current enrollees who apply for renewal after July 1 will also be required to submit this documentation. These policy changes are being enacted to comply with the Deficit Reduction Act of 2006.
The Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health has awarded a $3 million loan to the City of Monroe Water System to help the community improve its drinking water. The loan was completed on Wednesday, June 28.
National HIV Testing Day, a day dedicated to encouraging people to find out their HIV status and helping those who are positive access treatment and reduce their risk of transmitting the virus to others, is being held on June 27. The National Association of People With AIDS organizes the day, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other national and local entities across the country.
Determining the population of areas affected by the hurricanes of 2005 has proven to be a difficult task. Now, to aid in this effort, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Louisiana Public Health Institute have teamed with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct a rapid population estimate survey of six parishes in South Louisiana.
MapInfo Corporation presented the Department of Health and Hospitals’ Bureau of Primary Care and Rural Health with a 2006 Meridian Award for its use of location technology in improving health services.
Health care providers who provided no-cost treatment for uninsured patients from six Hurricane Rita-affected parishes will be reimbursed through a pool of federal funds.
With the 2006 hurricane upon us, the Department of Health and Hospitals has adopted new regulations that require nursing facilities to be better prepared for an emergency, including evacuations. The regulations are effective today, June 1, 2006.
The Department of Health and Hospitals awarded $21 million to seven hurricane-impacted areas to establish primary health care services, using funding from the federal Social Services Block Grant Primary and Preventive Health Care Services Funding Pool. A portion of the funds also will be used to develop a statewide pharmacy access program for uninsured and underinsured Louisiana residents.
In the most recent of a series of emergency preparedness announcements, today Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco activated a four-step sheltering plan for the 2006 hurricane season. "We all pray this year will be a hurricane-free season for Louisiana," said Governor Blanco. "However, we stand prepared for several evacuations and are doing everything in our power to ensure a hurricane-safe season. That is why we have strengthened our sheltering capacity as part of our commitment to implement lessons learned from Katrina and Rita."