Article archive / February 1, 2016
Originally published: . Volume 7, No. 2. Source pages: 4.
On January 7 the Governor’s Transition Committee on Healthcare reported, “The overall state of healthcare in Louisiana is dire.” The group of leaders from medicine and the healthcare industry provided 33 recommendations to the new Governor, including expanding Medicaid. Louisiana ranks at the bottom in health outcomes, in disease treatment, and in disease prevention.
The team suggested the state retool existing DHH Healthy Communities initiative;” increase the statewide telehealth network; and “explore a partnership between DHH and DOE to maximize existing programs.”
The team also said to expand models of delivery for community-based primary care and mental health services and to pursue a “rigorous independent and internal review of the public-private partnerships.” They suggested, “Convene a Health Summit among experts from all healthcare arenas.”
On January 8, members of the study group formed last year in response to the HCR 170 and directed to study the state’s problems, reported their findings.
Dr. James Hussey, Director of Medicaid program with Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), said to the committee that serious problems were being solved, and the state was very close to matching the “benchmarks” of other states.
During his report, he said that the state was working on its program of Applied Behavior Analysis for Autism Spectrum Disorders, noting that the state now had 82 providers for 958 patients, and had treated nearly a 1,000 individuals for about $10 million. He also pointed to the state’s ADHD Task Force, and to a focus on ADHD/Stimulant misdiagnosis and misuse of medications.
Hussey noted that the Medical-Behavioral Health integration “went live on” December, 1 2015, and that DHH was coordinating Medicaid Eligibility with the Department of Corrections and Pre- Release Programs.
He also said there was better linkage to local community services, and the work on Health Homes care for people with chronic conditions, with a starting date of July 2016.
State Medicaid Director, Dr. James Hussey, reports for the HCR 170 committee last month.
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