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• DHH makes restaurant ratings available online Play Video

  August 8, 2011 6:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Starting today, you can find out if a Louisiana restaurant makes the grade in cleanliness by checking a website. And it's not just restaurants or fast food joints; food sold at service stations and even snowball stands get a report card. The Louisiana Department of... more »

• Federal audit says DHH mismanaged $50M grant

  July 19, 2011 12:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. - A federal audit is charging Louisiana's health department with mismanaging a $50 million post-Hurricane Katrina grant intended to restore health care access to the New Orleans region. The Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that the... more »

• DHH Secretary contract controversy Play Video

  June 8, 2011 5:57 PM

  BATON ROUGE- State Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein's confirmation hearing today resulted in a major debate with lawmakers. As part of the hearing lawmakers blasted him for withholding an announcement involving the state Medicaid contract. He later released the information in the meeting, confirming that the... more »

• Officials react to "bath salt" abuse surge Play Video

  December 22, 2010 6:11 PM

  BATON ROUGE- It's a substance that some doctors say is sweeping the nation as the new over-the-counter way of getting a high. A white powder, commonly disguised as bath salts, is being snorted, injected, and in some cases smoked to create a high similar to cocaine. Dr. Mark Ryan,... more »

• La. seeks to revamp health care system for poor

  October 29, 2010 7:12 AM

  BATON ROUGE, LA - State Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein says the Jindal administration is open to changes in its proposed revamp of the state's health care delivery system for the poor. Greenstein said his agency will hold a Baton Rouge summit and eight regional meetings in... more »

• 3 new cases bring year's total to 9 in Louisiana

  August 12, 2010 5:37 PM

  State health officials say Louisiana could be on track for a record low number of dangerous cases of West Nile virus. The Department of Health and Hospitals said Thursday that one case of the flu-like West Nile fever was reported in the past week, along with blood test diagnoses... more »

• La. health department: 334 blame illness on spill

  August 2, 2010 5:02 PM

  Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals says 334 people have reported illnesses blamed on oil or dispersants from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The figures released Monday include 250 people - or about three-quarters of the total - involved in spill cleanup or offshore work, and 84 people... more »

• DHH again asks BP for mental health money

  July 30, 2010 5:38 AM

  The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is asking BP again for money to provide mental health services to residents affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. It says BP wanted an estimate through October 2011, so the six-month, $10 million request has been boosted to 18 months and... more »

• Departing La. official takes Fla. job

  July 21, 2010 10:03 AM

  Louisiana health chief Alan Levine says he has landed a job with Health Management Associates of Naples, Fla. The privately owned firm operates 58 hospitals in 15 states. Levine announced earlier this month that he was stepping down after two-and-a-half years as secretary of the state Department of... more »

• La. health plan to undergo major changes Play Video

  June 29, 2010 5:45 PM

  The health plan covering more than a million Louisianians will undergo major changes next year. Alan Levine, Secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, says if the current Medicaid system isn't reformed, it will turn into a "financial train wreck." News 2's Luke Margolis got answers from... more »

• DHH: Since well blew, 162 health complaints in La.

  June 28, 2010 5:31 PM

  Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals says 162 people - including 128 cleanup workers - have reported health complaints they believe were caused by exposure to oil spill pollutants since April 20. It says the most common symptoms are headache, nausea and throat irritation, and some people have multiple... more »

• DHH reopens oyster beds

  May 15, 2010 4:03 PM

  State health officials are reopening two oyster harvesting areas east of the Mississippi River. The Department of Health and Hospitals say oil from the Gulf of Mexico hasn't entered the oyster beds - known as Areas 5 and 6 in St. Bernard Parish. The reopenings are effective at... more »

• 2 oyster areas reopen in Gulf ahead of oil slick

  May 14, 2010 8:35 PM

  Louisiana health officials reopened two prime oyster areas Friday to give harvesters a chance to gather as many oysters as they can ahead of a Gulf of Mexico oil slick that has been spreading west from the Deepwater Horizon disaster. "It'll keep the wolf away from the door for a... more »

• DHH, LDWF announce precautionary closures

  April 30, 2010 4:24 PM

  The Department of Health and Hospitals and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced Friday select fishing areas and oyster harvesting beds will be closed as a precautionary response to the oil spill in the Gulf. LDWF Secretary Robert Barham announced the closure of both recreational and commercial fishing... more »

• State report questions overtime pay at center

  April 28, 2010 7:15 AM

  An inspector general's report questions whether employees at a state-run developmental center in Ruston worked massive amounts of overtime for which they got paid. The report says ten employees with the state Department of Health and Hospitals Northeast Supports and Services Center received $407,000 for more than 23,000 hours of... more »

• More claim sickness because of oysters

  April 7, 2010 11:37 AM

  More people say they've gotten sick from eating raw oysters. The Department of Health and Hospitals is investigating the claims. There's no definitive answer yet on whether the illnesses called in are a result of eating the oysters, or something else. Three oyster harvesting areas have been temporarily... more »

• DHH closes another oyster harvesting area

  March 31, 2010 11:01 AM

  The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has closed an oyster harvesting area for the third time this week because of an outbreak of illness. This time, "Area 13", in southern Jefferson and Lafourche parishes was shut down. DHH closed an area in Plaquemines Parish last Wednesday because of... more »

• DHH Secretary worried health care bill opens flood gates Play Video

  March 22, 2010 9:45 PM

  In the wake of Congress passing health care reform, the state health secretary expects the first change will be thousands of people joining the Medicaid ranks. Nearly 400,000 more people are expected to take advantage of Medicaid now that the healthcare bill has passed the House. But that level... more »

• Jobs in jeopardy at Jackson hospital Play Video

  March 10, 2010 9:53 PM

  Even if the mental hospital in Jackson stays open, hundreds of jobs might still be at stake. The Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System is on Highway 10. People in town fear nearly 200 jobs could be in jeopardy this June if the Department of Health and Hospitals moves forward with... more »

• DHH names new undersecretary

  February 9, 2010 6:27 AM

  Louisiana Medicaid director Jerry Phillips will become undersecretary of the state Department of Health and Hospitals with Charles Castille's retirement this month. Castille, a lawyer, is retiring this month after nearly 35 years in the state health agency the last 12 years in the top-level undersecretary's post which oversees agency... more »

• Swine Flu Vaccine Locations Play Video

  January 7, 2010 4:35 AM

  East Baton Rouge, Ascension, and Iberville parishes Saturday, January 9 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. FREE Ascension Parish Health Unit 901 Catalpa Street Donaldsonville, LA 70346 (225) 474-2004 Ascension Parish Health Unit 1024 S. E. Ascension Complex Boulevard Gonzales, LA 70737 (225) 644-4582 East Baton Rouge Parish Health Unit 353... more »

• H1N1 vaccines now available to anyone

  January 4, 2010 6:25 PM

  The state health department says that swine flu vaccine is now available to anyone. Monday's announcement said people should call their regular medical providers for a vaccination appointment. Public providers can be found at the state Department of Health and Hospitals website . The Department of Health and Hospitals... more »

• DHH to make cuts Play Video

  December 30, 2009 10:42 PM

  The state health department will lay off more than 400 employees. For the first time, Medicaid services for kids will take a hit. The majority of the layoffs will be at state-run group homes. DHH Secretary Alan Levine was confident many of those employees could be placed in... more »

• La. received recalled doses of swine flu vaccine

  December 15, 2009 5:12 PM

  Update: The Department of Health and Hospitals just received word that Louisiana has received about 10,990 doses of the swine flu vaccine pre-filled syringes that have been recalled. DHH says that only 684 of these doses had been administered in state. Health officials are recalling hundreds of thousands of doses... more »

• La. receives first shipment of H1N1 vaccine Play Video

  October 9, 2009 1:39 PM

  The first shipments of the H1N1 vaccinations are now arriving in Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals confirmed this morning that about 50 pediatric offices are receiving the initial shipments. The vaccines will mostly be available for target groups over the next few weeks. Target groups include health... more »

• Seasonal flu shots available next week at health units

  October 2, 2009 1:36 PM

  Seasonal flu shots will be available next week at parish health units for high-risk people across the state. The Department of Health and Hospitals will distribute 60,000 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine across the state in the coming months. Health units will receive and distribute a proportionate share... more »

• La., Miss. get grants for uninsured kids

  October 1, 2009 9:10 AM

  Louisiana and Mississippi agencies get a total of nearly $2.2 million to help find uninsured children who are eligible for either of two programs, and enroll them. The aim is to get eligible children into Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program. The Louisiana State Department of Health and Hospitals... more »

• Registration needed to give H1N1 vaccine

  September 30, 2009 5:49 AM

  The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals wants to remind doctors, hospitals, health departments and certified pharmacists that if they want to give swine flu vaccines, they must register with the state by 5 p.m. Friday. Louisiana expects to get the first shipment of H1N1 vaccine in mid-October. You can... more »

• La. Medicaid costs running higher than expected

  September 21, 2009 2:42 PM

  Louisiana's health secretary says costs of the state Medicaid program are running over expectations, and he expects a mid-year deficit that will have to be closed. Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine wouldn't put a dollar figure on the deficit projection Monday, but he says he expects it will be... more »

• Neurosurgeon warns against swine flu vaccine

  September 21, 2009 1:06 PM

  Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board certified neurosurgeon, calls the swine flu vaccine dangerous and unnecessary. Dr. Blaylock's beliefs regarding the swine flu are being circulated through e-mail on LSU's Campus. The e-mail states an ingredient in the vaccine "has been shown to cause severe autoimmune disorders such as... more »

• Eighth La. death due to H1N1 flu complications

  September 16, 2009 4:42 PM

  A man from the Houma/Thibodaux area has died from complications related to the H1N1 flu, also known as the swine flu. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals confirmed this is eighth death from H1N1 flu complications this year. DHH will not release any personal details to protect the... more »

• Two La. Deaths From Swine Flu Complications

  September 9, 2009 7:41 PM

  The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals confirmed two additional deaths from complications related to the swine flu, bringing the total of swine flu related deaths in the state to six. The victims included a female child from the Greater New Orleans area and a female young adult from... more »