Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 12. Source pages: 6.
In October, a key contributor to the opioid addiction crisis, Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, agreed to plead guilty to three federal criminal charges relating to its role in the opioid crisis. Charges included violating the federal anti- kickback law, conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and violating the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, according to several reports on the web. Purdue is supposed to pay $8.3 billion in fines, forfeiture of past profits and also included are civil liability payments. According to reports the company does not have the liquid assets to pay the fine and so will be dissolved. has been reported that the assets will be used to create a public benefit company that pays for addiction treatment.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 12. Source pages: 6.
From the Minutes Selected Items from July 2020 Minutes of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (LSBEP)
Friday, July 17, 2020 (Published November 6, 2020)
Dr. Henke was voted Board Chairperson and Dr. Gibson Vice-Chairperson. Dr. Henke addressed the board: I am going to speak about five goals I have for this year but please know that this is not an exhaustive list. There are many important objectives the Board continues to work to achieve. My first goal dates back to my original platform in 2016. This platform, supported by LPA, included my resistance to the EPPP-2 as an unnecessary burden that would further impede access to services by adding an expensive and poorly planned barrier to licensure. I aim to continue to work collaboratively with ASPPB to incorporate more flexibility in their implementation of this exam and support consumers of psychological services by ensuring barriers to licensure are high enough to protect the public but do not serve as an unnecessary obstacle for our newest licensees. My second goal has become clearer […] Licensees seem to want more support from LSBEP in meeting and maintaining the necessary standards to maintain licensure. So, it is my goal that we continue to develop and expand our Juris Prudence exam […] A third goal for this year includes opening discussion regarding specialty designations and their utility. […] My fourth goal centers around enhanced communication between the Board and licensees. […] I'll end my last goal and this statement with my official theme for the year, courtesy of our Public Member, Mr. Chance McNeely. That theme is "Step Into the Present." Oftentimes, government and administrative agency progress is painstakingly slow. However, we have an opportunity to step into the present by automating more of our processes and utilizing technology to reduce administrative burden from both Board staff and licensees. Dr. Henke exercised her privilege and made the following committee appointments: 1. Finance Committee – Henke and Gibson 2. Oral Examination Committee – Gormanous and Moore 3. Jurisprudence Examination Committee – Gibson, Moore and Harness 4. Legislative Oversight Committee – Henke, Gormanous and McNeely 5. Liaison to Professional Organizations and Boards – Gormanous, Moore and Harness 6. Public and Professional Outreach Committee – Henke, Moore and McNeely 7. Continuing Professional Development Committee – Henke, Gibson and Harness 8. Supervision/Credentials Committee – Henke and Moore 9. Complaints Committee – Henke and Gibson Long Range Planning Committee -Gormanous and Gibson 5. Legislative Oversight Committee – Update on AdHoc Legislative Collaborative Committee (ALCC) – Ms. Monic reported that the ALCC has continued to meet and discuss the proposed legislation. The ALCC has not completed its review for a final recommendation. The committee will be meeting in August and will have Attorney Courtney Newton available to answer legal questions. 6. Liaison to Professional Organizations and Boards – The committee discussed the new composition noting that Dr. Harness would focus on LPA and the National Register, Dr. Moore would keep up to date on APA and APPIC developments and Dr. Gormanous would focus on APA and ASPPB updates.
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Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 12. Source pages: 8.
According to Dr. Thomas Levy, gradate from Tulane medical school, inhaling a very diluted concentration of hydrogen peroxide through a nebulizer may be an effective way to prevent, or even treat, the Coronavirus. This home treatment, first introduced by Dr. Charles Farr in the early 90s, requires only two things; a nebulizer (with a face mask) and food grade hydrogen peroxide, diluted to .1 percent (one tenth of one percent), making it easier to carry out than most at- home coronavirus treatments, according to authors. The hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) consists of a water molecule with an extra oxygen atom. It is the oxygen that inactivates the virus by breaking down its structure. According to an article by authors at Mercola, breathing in this diluted version of hydrogen peroxide allows it to travel into the mouth, nose, and lung. Then the hydrogen peroxide works in a similar way as soap works, by dissolving the fatty coating of the coronavirus infected cells. "Effective hydrogen peroxide nebulization quite literally, 'chops the head off of the snake,' and the virus present elsewhere in the body can then readily be mopped up when the new virus influx has been terminated," Levy notes in the Mercola article. "It should be kept in mind that hydrogen peroxide kills pathogens very readily upon contact in an open wound. It should, therefore, be understandable why putting a fine mist of hydrogen peroxide in all the areas of maximal viral replication promptly puts the body on a pathway to rapid healing." The American Journal of Infection Control found that H202 can inactivate 99% of a virus on surfaces after 2.5 minutes of exposure. Researchers at the Journal of Hospital Infection, found similar results, after testing with H202 and stainless steel. A study conducted in 1997 concluded that vaporized H202 was effective against many exotic animal viruses.
[Note: Consult your physician before using any of the techniques described in this article. Go to Mercola.com to read the full article.]
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 12. Source pages: 13.
As a long term fan of Esther the Wonder Pig on faceboook I finally got around to reading the two books about her and her adoption by Steve and Derek. The two books are: Esther the Wonder Pig, changing the world one heart at a time, and Happily Ever Esther, two men, a wonder pig and their life saving mission to give animals a home. When Steve and Derek adopted Esther they thought she was a baby mini pig. Things worked out differently. She currently weighs 700 or 800 lbs. What fascinated me about the books were two things. The first was getting to know a pig by proxy. I never have had that opportunity. The second was even more fascinating, getting to know the men who adopted her. As a result of their relationship with the pig both men became vegetarians, gave up successful careers, bought a farm mainly with money from Esther’s fan club (of thousands) and built a place for homeless and unwanted animals. A breathtaking change.
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Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 12. Source pages: 13.
“Crucial Conversations – Tools for Talking When Stakes are High,” which was first published in 2002, became a New York Times bestseller and has since sold over 4 million copies. Multiple reviews suggest the book has touched a very important and sensitive issue: We have conversations with others throughout our lives that affect our relationships and, ultimately, the course of our life. Even day- to-day conversations can become crucial to our wellbeing. The authors begin by discussing their definition of a “crucial conversation” as one in which the “stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions start to run strong.” They also make point out that, when we face the need to have a crucial conversation, we typically find three likely outcomes: 1. We avoid them (and nothing changes or we delay the confrontation), 2. We face them and handle them poorly, reacting with silence or (verbal) violence because we are hurt, frustrated or angry, or 3. We face them and handle them well (or at least with some degree of success). In setting the stage for their discussion and recommendations, the authors provide an ample list of examples of “crucial” conversations we often face. Examples of potentially crucial conversations include: ending a relationship, talking to a coworker who offended us, asking a friend to repay a loan, giving a boss feedback, resolving custody or visitation issues with an ex-spouse, discussing problems with sexual intimacy, confronting a loved one about substance abuse problems, and giving an unfavorable performance review, just to mention a few. Obviously, crucial conversations are a major part of life. This well written and easy-to-read 240-page softback book is both an excellent reference and a self-help text. While the text has 11 distinctive chapters, its message is organized around seven themes: 1) Defining conversations as crucial, 2) Preparing yourself, 3) Observing and analyzing the situation, 4) Making others feel safe, 5) Sharing and understanding stories, 6) Mastering our stories and the art of dialog, and 7) Converting dialog into action. It includes case studies and resources. It is well worth the read!
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 11. Source pages: 7.
House Concurrent Resolution 21 by Rep. Wheat, Adams, Amedee and many others, requests the La. Dept. of Health to submit documentation to the federal Medicaid agency to provide financial relief for providers of services for people with developmental disabilities.
The Resolution urges and requests the Department to immediately submit requests for all retainer payments associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency for home- and community- based service providers and to submit all applicable documentation for a temporary rate increase for providers of adult day center services, home- and community-based services, and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled not later than 30 days after the final adjournment of the 2020 2nd Extraordinary Session.
According to the Resolution, CMS is currently authorizing certain home- and community-based providers to bill and receive retainer payments for individuals enrolled in Medicaid even if the service cannot be provided during the COVID-19 public health emergency
On March 22, 2020, the Louisiana Department of Health ordered that all adult day center services shall close to protect the health and safety of individuals during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The authors asked the Department to immediately submit requests for all retainer payments associated with the COVID-19.
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Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 11. Source pages: 8.
Rep. Freiberg authored House Concurrent Resolution 26, which requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the state Department of Education, to issue guidance and policies relative to the creation and operation of micro schools. The Resolution is requesting a report by March 1, 2021.
In the Resolution, Rep. Freiberg writes that parents, educators, and administrators are continuing to search for safer alternatives to large congregate settings for education delivery; it is critical that students receive high quality instruction that best fits their needs while maintaining proper social distancing measures and complying with other guidance from public health officials
According to the text, a micro school is a neighborhood school generally enrolling fewer than fifteen students. He writes that micro schools could provide valuable in-person instructional opportunities while maintaining small class sizes and space for social distancing.
The Legislature of Louisiana urges and requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study issues relative to the creation and operation of micro schools, by approved public schools and public school governing authorities, to help ensure that Louisiana students continue to have high quality and safe learning experiences amidst the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency and to submit a written report of its findings and conclusions, including any recommendations for related legislation, to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education no later than August 1, 2021.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 11. Source pages: 8.
HB 100 by Rep. Newell requires the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission to consider the well-being of youth in the juvenile justice system during a public health emergency and requires the commission to submit annual reports to the legislature.
Present law requires the commission to address issues such as: (1) The creation of a single state entity for providing services to children. The new law adds that the commission shall also consider the well-being of youth in the juvenile justice system during a public health emergency.
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Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 11. Source pages: 8.
Senator Mizell's Senate Resolution will authorize and direct the re-creation of the Louisiana Women's Incarceration Task Force under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus and the Department of Public Safety & Corrections. The effort grant them new authority to study, evaluate, analyze, and undertake a comprehensive review of the state's and local municipal criminal justice systems as it relates to prenatal and postpartum care of incarcerated pregnant women and the need for babies to bond with their mothers. The Task Force is to report its findings and policy recommendations by February 1, 2021.
Sen. Mizell noted that according to United States Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2017, Louisiana had the seventh highest women's incarceration rate in the United States and incarcerated more than two thousand women at a cost of over $50 million. It is beneficial to the entire population of the state of Louisiana to develop a broadly diverse and cross- disciplinary task force to study correction systems for women.
The information gathered shall be used to develop policy recommendations for the Senate to:
(1) Develop practices and processes that avoid placing additional trauma or harm upon pregnant women as they navigate the criminal justice system.
(2) Address the holistic health of women to include access to hormone therapy, prenatal care, reproductive health, access to other medicine to maintain health, consistent health screenings, mental health access, and access to substance use and recovery resources.
(3) Increase and evaluate programming available to pregnant women during and after incarceration with the intention of self-determined development.
(4) Ensure the availability of gender responsive resources to support the dignity and quality of life of all women.
Participants listed include Chair of the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus, a physician specializing in OB/GYN designated by Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, president of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, or his designee, and president of the Louisiana District Attorneys' Association, among others.
The task force may request the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus, the Department of Public Safety & Corrections, and the office of the judicial administrator of the Louisiana Supreme Court to provide relevant data and staff expertise upon request.
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Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 11. Source pages: 9.
In his House Resolution 1, Rep. Echols requests the La. Department of Health to study the costs and benefits of setting Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services at levels that are at least equal to Medicare rates for those services, and report findings from the study to the House Committee on Appropriations and the House Committee on Health and Welfare.
He writes that due to its interconnected problems of poor health outcomes and extensive health professional shortage areas, Louisiana has an especially pronounced statewide need for an expansion of primary care; and
Greater access to and utilization of routine primary and preventive care among members of any population, particularly a medically underserved one, reduces the population's need for more expensive forms of acute care, he notes.
Due to the measurable effects that expanding access to primary care has in health outcome improvements and health system cost reductions, an expansion of access to primary care in Louisiana is both responsible public health policy and sound fiscal policy, he says.
The benefits to be considered in this study shall include, without limitation, reductions in net costs of overall care for patients resulting from enhanced access to and quality of primary care.
The Resolution instructs the Louisiana Department of Health shall report findings from the study called for in this Resolution to the House Committee on Appropriations and the House Committee on Health and Welfare prior to the convening of the 2021 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
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Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 11. Source pages: 10.
Three studies showed promising results that certain mouth wash substances can reduce the viral load in the first stage of the Covid19 illness and potentially have beneficial effects on outcomes.
Dr. Sobeen Syed, (@drbeen on uTube) reviewed two in-vitro studies and one in-vivo. In one of the in-vitro studies, researchers showed that Betadine Products demonstrated strong in-vitro virucidal activity, killing 99.99% of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in 30 seconds. The research has been published in the respected Infectious Disease and Therapy Journal on July 8, 2020.
Even though the in vivo study was a small study, about 20 people, all of these subjects in the Betadine gargling group were able to clear the virus 100% by day six. None of those in the control group had cleared the virus by that time, reported Dr. Syed.
Viral load has been associated with progression from the earlier and less dangerous stages of the illness to the second and third stages which are more serious and deadly. T
The products subjected to in-vitro testing were: Betadine antiseptic products, namely solution (10% PVP-I), skin cleanser (7.5% PVP-I), gargle and mouthwash (1.0% PVP-I) and throat spray (0.45% PVP-I).
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 11. Source pages: 10.
New research presented at the September European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Conference on Coronavirus Disease shows that having a lower level of zinc in the blood is associated with a poorer outcome in patients with COVID-19.
The study, led by Dr. Roberto Güerri-Fernández, Hospital Del Mar, Barcelona, Spain, was a retrospective analysis of 611 hospitalized patients. They found each unit increase of plasma zinc at admission to hospital was associated with a 7% reduced risk of in-hospital mortality. Having a plasma zinc level lower than 50mcg/dl at admission was associated with a 2.3 times increased risk of in-hospital death compared with those patients with a plasma zinc level of 50mcg/dl or higher. [Sept 23 Medical Press]
This finding adds to the evidence for immune system support, such as that found for Vitamin D3.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.
Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 11. Source pages: 15.
Mini-conference & Virtual Year-Long Event The La School Psych Assn to Hold Conference
The Louisiana School Psychological Association is planning a mini-conference on November 6 and a full virtual conference from September 2020 to August 2021, according to the announcement from Brandon Wilks, LSPA President-Elect and Conference Chair. Plans are subject to changes, Wilks noted, because of the fluid situation with Covid19.
The mini-event will take place from 8:00 am–4:00 pm, at the Doubletree by Hilton, 1521 West Pinhook Road, Lafayette, November 6. However, updates or changes will be posted on the association website given the changeable Covid environment.
"The LSPA Executive Committee (EC) has the health and safety of its members, guests, presenters, communities, and their families at the forefront of thoughts when planning and executing this in person gathering," wrote Wilks. See website for current information.
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The Louisiana Legislature wrapped up its Special Session on October 23, dealing with a number of the emergency issues for Covid-19 and the hurricanes. Conservative legislators put forth numerous bills to curb the governor's emergency power to restrict citizens in their behaviors, but only one measure passed through both houses, HB 4.
HB 4 would have provided procedures for either house of the legislature to terminate renewals of emergency declarations or specific provisions therein. However, on October 27 Gov. Edwards vetoed HB 4 stating that"… the bill does not represent a serious approach to responding to a public health emergency."
Among example bills that passed, HB 26 establishes a tax holiday due to Covid-19 and hurricanes. The sales and use tax levied by the state shall not apply to the first two thousand five hundred dollars of the sales price or cost price of any consumer purchases of tangible personal property that occur on Friday, November 20, 2020, and Saturday, November 21, 2020, in order to provide tax relief for citizens recovering from Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rep. Edmonds' HB 20 was approved. HB 20 establishes an income tax deduction for educational coaching services for an in- person facilitator of virtual education delivered by a public or approved nonpublic elementary or secondary school that were paid by the taxpayer between March and Dec. 31, 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also authored by Rep. Edmonds, HB 52 provides that during any state of public health emergency relating to one or more infectious diseases, the La. Dept. of Health shall publish on a publicly accessible website a report providing the total number of children between the ages of five and 17 in La. known to have been infected with each disease addressed by the public health emergency declaration.
HB 77 by Rep. Davis will allow the board of directors of a corporation to determine that any meeting of shareholders shall be held solely by means of remote communication, when the bylaws do not expressly require otherwise.
Rep. Zeringue's HB 94 exempts certain businesses impacted by COVID-19 from paying license renewal fees during the declared state of emergency and for six months following the termination of the state of emergency.
Rep. Butler's HB 95 requires the La. Department of Health to allow visitation of residents at intermediate care facilities by residents' family members during a public health emergency.
SB 32, by Sen. Fields, makes accommodations for teacher evaluations. Present law requires that student assessments be conducted and student achievement and student growth data be used in evaluating teachers, schools, and school districts. The new law additionally provides that notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, for the 2020-2021 school year, the results from student assessments shall not be used for student progression or teacher evaluations.
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Concerns Remain about Suicide Rates Veterans Honored During November, New Programs
Next week the country celebrates Veterans Day on November 11 and the President signed a proclamation on October 30 designating November as National Veterans and Military Families Month.
"Motivated by patriotism and love of country, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Space Warfighters serve at home and abroad with professionalism, ingenuity, integrity, and devotion. Their families always stand beside them in their missions and as they transition to civilian life," said the President.
Military Times published a list of restaurants that are honoring veterans with free treats and meals. At Cracker Barrel, Veterans get a complimentary slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake when dining at any location on November 11. At Black Angus Steakhouse, Veterans get a discount on the All-American Steak Plate. Chili's will be giving Veterans and active-duty service members a free meal from a select menu and 7-Eleven is providing Active-duty, retired, veteran, guard, reservists and family members a free coffee or Big Gulp on November 11.
But concerns about Vet's well-being continue. While the Annual Suicide Report, published in August by the Department of Defense, indicated positive moves in program development, the suicide rate remains high with the concerning trends.
Across the Military Services, according to the report, suicide rates ranged from 21.5 to 29.8 per 100,000 Active Component Service members. For the Reserve and National Guard, the rates were 18.2 and 20.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 Service members, respectively.
For the Army Reserve and Army National Guard, the rates were 18.9 and 22.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 Soldiers, respectively.
From 2014 to 2019, the suicide rate for the Active Component increased from 20.4 to 25.9 suicides per 100,000 Service members. The Reserve and National Guard suicide rates did not show evidence of a linear increase or decrease from 2014 to 2019.
"Those dying are primarily enlisted, male, and less than 30 years of age, regardless of military population. Specifically, the greatest proportion of suicide decedents were enlisted (83.1% to 92.7%), less than 30 years old (50.8% to 73.4%), and male (91. 6% to 95.4%), depending on military population (i.e., Active Component, Reserve, or National Guard). Enlisted, males, and those under the age of 30 in the Active Component were at higher risk for suicide compared to the population average. The majority of Service member suicide decedents died by firearm (ranging from 59.6% to 78.7%, across military populations)."
The authors noted that the Department has made progress in developing and fielding programs targeting the populations of greatest concern.
The Department has developed and initiated pilot of an interactive educational program to teach foundational skills to deal with life stressors early in military careers, particularly those unique to young, enlisted members. Conducted Service member focus groups to refine the curriculum.
They have also developed a video training for Service members on how to recognize and respond to suicide warning signs on social media. The video – “Simple Things Save Lives” – is currently being evaluated before broader implementation across the DoD.
Also they have developed a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide greater access to behavioral health services for National Guard members and their families, to include services provided during training periods.
And they have trained more than 2,000 non-medical military providers to provide Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) to Service members and families to increase awareness of risk factors for suicide, safe storage of lethal means (i.e., firearms and medications), and how to intervene in a crisis. Over 90% of counselors who completed the pre- and post-training test, experienced increased knowledge and counseling skills.
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help immediately at 1-800-273-8255. Service members, along with their loved ones can also call 1-800-273-8255.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.