Department of Health and Hospitals

Lawmakers Question If DHH's New Budget Saves

Ashley Westerman — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:41:00 +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.

Many lawmakers were skeptical about whether the cuts were falling in the right places. Rep.

State Dept. of Health and Hospitals Says Employee Misused $800K

The Associated Press — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:21:39 +0000

State health officials say more than $800,000 in public money allegedly has been misappropriated by a Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals employee.

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.

All About Efficiency: DHH Secretary On The Latest Round of Healthcare Cuts

Ashley Westerman — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:49:00 +0000

Almost $83 million in cuts to healthcare programs and services went into effect Friday to shore up a mid-year deficit in the state budget. These are separate from a previous round of cuts made in July.

The latest round of reductions includes cuts to services for at-risk children and low-income moms, as well as a one percent drop in the rate paid to hospitals and physicians for non-primary Medicaid services.

State's Medicaid Contract Gains in Value

The Associated Press — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:00:00 +0000

A $185 million multiyear contract with a company to take over the state's Medicaid claims processing is getting more lucrative.

New Southeast Louisiana Hospital Firm Hires About 125 of 354 Laid Off

The Associated Press — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:58:03 +0000

The new private operator of a St. Tammany Parish psychiatric hospital has hired about 125 of the 354 workers laid off by the state.

DHH probes Lafayette Association for Retarded Citizens

The Associated Press — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 17:21:02 +0000

State investigators say one client of the Lafayette Association for Retarded Citizens developed a bowel obstruction and another developed an antibiotic-resistant staph infection because association employees did not administer medicine properly.

State closes oyster harvest areas

The Associated Press — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:19:30 +0000

Effective at sunset Tuesday, oyster harvest areas 1-28 — from Lake Borgne in St. Bernard Parish to Vermillion Bay in Vermilion Parish — will be closed.

Three new West Nile deaths, total cases up to 53

The Associated Press — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 17:06:32 +0000

State health officials confirm three more people have died from West Nile virus, bringing the total to nine so far this year.

DHH confirms four new cases of West Nile virus

The Associated Press — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 23:28:29 +0000

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals says four new cases of West Nile virus bring this year's total to 14.