Department of Health and Hospitals

De-Institutionalizing Louisiana, Part Two: Demand vs. Expansion

Ashley Westerman — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 06:00:00 +0000

In Boyce, La., St. Mary’s Residential Training School offers both residential care and educational services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

This concludes our two-part series on the state’s goal to wind down the number of individuals living in places like St. Mary’s.

De-Institutionalizing Louisiana, Part One: Waivers vs. Facilities

Ashley Westerman — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Louisiana's efforts to move more individuals with developmental disabilities out of congregate living and back into the home with supports actually started pretty late compared to the rest of the country.

In the 1980s when other states were beginning to shut down their large, state-run facilities as part of the national de-institutionalization movement, Louisiana was still building. Only in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina forced the shutdown of the New Orleans metropolitan facility did the state start ramping up its de-institutionalizing efforts.

This is the first of a two-part series exploring the progress of that effort over the years since.

DHH Report: Could Be Savings In Medicaid Expansion

Ashley Westerman — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:31:45 +0000

A new report by the state Department of Health and Hospitals shows Louisiana could save millions of dollars over the next decade by expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Greenstein Skips DHH Budget Hearing Amid Investigation

Ashley Westerman — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:52:27 +0000

Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration has been instructed to stay quiet about the specifics of the cancelation of a nearly $200 million Medicaid contract.

That’s what State Inspector General Stephen Street told the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday before a hearing on the Department of Health and Hospital’s budget for the next fiscal year got underway.

Lawmakers Question If DHH's New Budget Saves

Ashley Westerman — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:36:34 +0000

Officials from the Department of Health and Hospitals were grilled Tuesday morning by the Appropriations Committee on how they plan to save money in the next fiscal year.

Among other cost-saving measures, the department’s $8.9 billion proposed budget calls for turning over a number of existing Medicaid services to private entities, and investing more in the Bayou Health reforms. Savings also hinge on the privatization of the LSU charity hospitals, although no official agreements have been made yet.

Dept. of Health and Hospitals Proposed Budget Depends on Contingencies

Ashley Westerman — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:06:00 +0000

Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed $24.7 billion state budget for the next fiscal year seemingly leaves the state Department of Health and Hospitals relatively unscathed.

Record Number of West Nile Virus Cases

Ashley Westerman — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Louisiana's worst year for West Nile virus in a decade continues into the fall season. On Friday the state Department of Health and Hospitals reported 12 new West Nile virus cases, and two more West Nile-related deaths.