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• Pro-Obama group airing health ads

  June 17, 2013 11:53 AM

  WASHINGTON - An outside group supporting President Barack Obama's agenda plans to air a series of ads this summer promoting Obama's health care overhaul. Organizing for Action intends to spend at least $1 million this summer on ads to draw attention to the implementation of the health care law, including... more »

• Coverage may be unaffordable for low-wage workers

  June 13, 2013 10:33 AM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's health care law is called the Affordable Care Act, but a glitch could make it unaffordable for many low-wage workers, including employees at big chain restaurants, retail stores and hotels. Here's the problem: The law requires medium-sized and large employers to offer what it calls... more »

• Dr. Z warns about too much fun in the sun Play Video

  June 10, 2013 5:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The phrase 'Fun in the Sun' is popular, but Dr. Z has a different take if you spend too much time in the sun for too long. She tells WBRZ's Rosa Flores that exposing your arms and hands when you're driving or fishing - for extended... more »

• Rayville woman pleads guilty in Medicaid fraud

  May 31, 2013 11:52 AM

  RAYVILLE - Attorney General Buddy Caldwell's office says the former owner of a Rayville personal care services agency has pleaded guilty to defrauding the state's Medicaid program. The guilty plea was entered Thursday by 52-year-old Patricia A. Bell of Rayville. Caldwell says in a news release that Bell was charged... more »

• Three accused of filing false Medicaid claims

  May 17, 2013 12:01 PM

  ZACHARY - The Louisiana Attorney General's Office announced three Zachary women have been arrested and charged with filing false Medicaid claims. Investigators said the three women, all personal care attendants, filed timesheets claiming they were working with Medicaid recipients at the same time they were actually working for another... more »

• Looking hot now and 10 years from now Play Video

  May 13, 2013 4:57 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Dr. Z continued her series today on "How to look hot now and 10 years from now." She talked about the importance of using retinol, and reminded people that you are what you eat, so what you put in your body shows on your skin. ... more »

• GOP boycotts health care advisory board

  May 9, 2013 3:15 PM

  WASHINGTON - The battle over President Barack Obama's health care law continues to play out today -- with congressional Republicans saying they won't nominate candidates for an advisory board that's supposed to play a role in holding down Medicare costs. The board would have the power to force payment cuts... more »

• Tele-medicine service to increase for La. prisons Play Video

  May 8, 2013 5:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state Department of Corrections plans to increase over the Internet diagnosis and treatment by nearly 600 percent. Corrections is rushing to sign a state contract to provide 17,000 annual tele-med check-ups to thousands of inmates. Deputy Secretary Thomas Bickham said the department was caught... more »

• Some hospital bills vastly higher for similar care Play Video

  May 8, 2013 12:39 PM

  WASHINGTON - The government is shedding light on the mystery of just how high a hospital bill might go - and whether it's cheaper to get that care across town. The Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday listed thousands of hospitals' charges for 100 common Medicare services. There... more »

• Insurers may prove choosy with overhaul exchanges

  January 17, 2013 3:36 PM

  UNDATED - UnitedHealth CEO Stephen Hemsley is warning analysts not to assume that the insurer will participate widely in a key health care overhaul coverage expansion that unfolds later this year. State-based exchanges will debut this fall and allow people to sign up for coverage online, with some using income-based... more »

• Dr. Z: Beyond facial aesthetics Play Video

  January 14, 2013 5:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Dr. Ann Zedlitz joined Rosa Flores today to talk about a new topic: "Beyond facial aesthetics." Dr. Z brought a former patient to talk about some treatments she had and their effects today. If you have a question for Dr. Z or skincare topic you'd... more »

• Unusual respite from surging health care costs

  January 7, 2013 3:58 PM

  WASHINGTON - The government says Americans kept health care spending in check for three consecutive years. It's an unusual respite, since health care usually surges ahead of overall economic growth. Will the relief linger? That's not clear. It could fade if jobs come roaring back as the economy recovers. The... more »

• Red states, too, get health care nod from Obama

  January 3, 2013 11:10 AM

  WASHINGTON- Some bipartisan cooperation may finally be breaking out in the nation's contentious battle over health care overhaul. The Obama administration announced Thursday that four red states are on the list of those getting the initial go-ahead to build their own health insurance marketplaces. Open enrollment for millions... more »

• Utah Gov asks Obama to approve state's exchange

  December 11, 2012 2:31 PM

  SALT LAKE CITY - Utah Governor Gary Herbert is asking President Barack Obama to approve the state's health insurance exchange and declare that it meets the requirements of the federal health overhaul. Herbert sent the letter Tuesday ahead of Friday's deadline for states to decide if they'll do their own... more »

• Antioxidants found in vitamins, fruits and veggies Play Video

  December 10, 2012 6:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Today on News 2 at 4, Dr. Ann Zedlitz sat down with Rosa to talk about the ABC's of good skin care. The segment focused on the importance of antioxidants in vitamins, fruits and vegetables. Watch the video to see which ones Dr. Z says are best... more »

• Study: Drug coverage to vary under health law

  December 4, 2012 10:25 AM

  WASHINGTON - A new study says basic prescription drug coverage could vary dramatically from state to state under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. That's because states get to set benefits for private health plans that will be offered starting in 2014 through new insurance exchanges. The study out Tuesday... more »

• ABC's of year-round skin care Play Video

  November 26, 2012 5:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Taking good care of your skin means applying sunscreen year-round, not just during the summer months. Dr. Z talks to WBRZ's Rosa Flores about her ABC's of good skin care. She talks SPF and options for oily and dry skin. If you have questions for... more »

• Prosecutor: Children left at day care were doomed

  November 19, 2012 1:28 PM

  HOUSTON - A prosecutor tells jurors a Texas woman doomed the children in her home day care when she left them alone to go shopping before a deadly fire broke out. Jurors in Houston began deliberating the sentence of Jessica Tata after closing arguments in her trial's punishment phase Monday.... more »

• Government extends deadline for health care decision

  November 15, 2012 5:11 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Obama administration has given states another month to decide what role, if any, they'll play in carrying out the new health care law. Instead of having to declare their intentions by Friday, states now have until Dec. 14, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in... more »

• GOP-led states start warming up to health care law

  November 15, 2012 1:21 PM

  WASHINGTON - From the South to the heartland, the once-solid wall of Republican resistance to President Barack Obama's health care law is cracking. Ahead of a federal deadline Friday for states to declare their intentions, Associated Press reporters interviewed governors and state officials around the country. AP found surprising openness... more »

• Liberal group outlines substantial Medicare cuts

  November 14, 2012 12:11 PM

  WASHINGTON - A think-tank with ties to the White House is looking to prevent a raid on health care programs during upcoming budget talks. It's released a plan today for some significant savings -- mostly from Medicare. The blueprint from the Center for American Progress spares Medicaid and the new... more »

• States get more time to work on health care plans

  November 9, 2012 3:49 PM

  WASHINGTON - Many states are still on the fence about President Barack Obama's health care law. Now the administration says governors can have more time. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a letter to governors Friday that she still wants to hear by the end of next... more »

• State lawmakers looking for compromise with federal health care plan Play Video

  November 8, 2012 5:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Some state lawmakers hope Governor Bobby Jindal will help work through issues with President Obama's healthcare reforms, now that the election is over. The health care plan is aimed at guaranteeing health care coverage for the uninsured, among other reforms. Governor Jindal had previously stated he... more »

• New treatment for brown spots, acne Play Video

  October 15, 2012 5:29 PM

  BATON ROUGE - People who wish to get of blemishes or brown spots due to too much sun have new options, according to dermatologist Dr. Ann Zedlitz. Dr. Z spoke to Rosa Flores today about a new treatment called Allumera which has led to some dramatic results in patients... more »

• Livingston welcomes its first emergency room Play Video

  September 12, 2012 5:58 PM

  WALKER- Our Lady of the Lake opened the first emergency room in Livingston Parish today, something it says will help save lives. "We felt there was a strong need to put something here to provide emergency care as opposed to them having to drive all the way to Essen... more »

• Another LSU System health care leader replaced

  September 5, 2012 2:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Another top leader of LSU's health care system is being replaced, as the Jindal administration pushes the university-run network of hospitals and clinics to change its approach to providing services. Roxane Townsend will no longer lead the LSU Health Care Services Division, which runs seven of the 10... more »

• LSU comes up with temporary fix to limit cuts

  July 27, 2012 4:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - LSU health care leaders say they will use patchwork funding to keep their safety net hospitals open and lessen the blow of budget cuts that threatened to shutter facilities. Plans outlined to the university governing board Friday will cut about $50 million from public hospitals and clinics,... more »

• Judge rejects suit to block contraception mandate

  July 17, 2012 5:53 PM

  LINCOLN, Neb. - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by seven states and joined by religious plaintiffs seeking to block the contraceptive coverage mandate in the federal health care law. The lawsuit was filed by attorneys general from Nebraska, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas. Plaintiffs... more »

• Jindal hoping for more revenue to fill budget gap

  July 17, 2012 5:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Even with $523 million in announced health care cuts, Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration has slashed only two-thirds of the spending needed to close the entire gap in Louisiana's Medicaid budget. The administration is banking on better-than-expected revenue projections to close the remaining budget hole. If that doesn't... more »

• Health care up for vote in Senate today

  July 11, 2012 7:29 AM

  WASHINGTON - The House has voted more than 30 times to repeal or undercut the health care law President Barack Obama signed in March of 2010, only to have its efforts die in the Senate. And House Republicans plan to try again today. This time, they're arguing that... more »

• White House threatens veto on health care repeal

  July 9, 2012 6:13 PM

  WASHINGTON - The White House has issued a veto threat for a House bill to overturn President Barack Obama's health care law. The White House says the repeal would cost millions of American families the security of affordable health coverage. House Republicans are scheduled to vote to overturn the law... more »

• Tone changes in Jindal administration over cuts

  July 3, 2012 6:19 PM

  BATON ROUGE - When a bloc of conservative state lawmakers pushed to strip money from the health department, the Jindal administration outcry was loud, suggesting the cuts could devastate health care services. A month later, the $859 million in budget cuts hitting the Medicaid program from new congressional action are... more »

• State leaders disagree on next step after health care ruling Play Video

  June 29, 2012 6:07 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Governor Jindal says Louisiana will not implement any of President Obama's health care plans, while others called for the state to start working on the reforms. Jindal says his focus will be on helping the GOP defeat President Obama in November and repeal the entire plan. He... more »

• Romney, Obama look to use court ruling to their advantage

  June 28, 2012 11:34 AM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are both gearing up to use today's Supreme Court decision on health care for political gain. Romney, an opponent of the law, is planning to cast himself as the best hope for millions of Americans who favor the law's repeal. He says... more »

• Dissenters say entire law was invalid

  June 28, 2012 11:33 AM

  WASHINGTON - The ruling that upheld the vast majority of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul came from the court's four liberal justices, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts. The dissenters were Justices Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. In a joint statement, they said, "The act... more »

• Local doctors, patients still have reform questions

  June 28, 2012 11:06 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Local doctors and their patients still have questions about what today's Supreme Court ruling over healthcare reform means to them. Many people with pre-existing conditions have been able to get insurance after the Affordable Care Act was passed and signed into law. Today's ruling upheld the... more »

• Jindal: GOP must push for health care law repeal

  June 28, 2012 10:47 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal says the GOP must push for a full repeal of President Barack Obama's health care law, after it was upheld by the Supreme Court. The Republican Louisiana governor said Americans don't want the health care overhaul. He said it will decrease the quality of... more »

• Health care ruling expected today

  June 28, 2012 6:44 AM

  WASHINGTON - The stakes are huge as the anticipation grows for today's announcement of the Supreme Court's decision on the health care overhaul, but no matter what the court decides, it's unlikely to be the final word. The problems of high medical costs, widespread waste and tens of millions of... more »

• Colleges, health care face cuts in House budget

  May 15, 2012 7:41 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's top budget adviser says the $25 billion budget proposal passed by the House could force steep cuts in public colleges and health care, damaging services. Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater outlined his concerns Monday to the Senate Finance Committee. GOP lawmakers in the House... more »

• Steep budget cuts possible for education and health care

  May 14, 2012 11:56 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal's top budget adviser says the $25 billion budget proposal passed by the House could force steep cuts in public colleges and health care, damaging services. Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater outlined his concerns Monday to the Senate Finance Committee. GOP lawmakers in the House... more »

• Mom finds 3 people murdered at day care

  April 9, 2012 6:23 PM

  BROOKLYN PARK - Police say a mother who takes her toddler to a home day care in Minnesota discovered three adults shot to death inside. Police in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park gave new details of the triple slaying early Monday morning. Spokesman Todd Milburn says the woman had... more »

• Justices take up heart of health care overhaul law

  March 27, 2012 11:07 AM

  WASHINGTON - Demonstrators are back on the sidewalk outside the Supreme Court, where justices today are hearing arguments on the key part of the health care overhaul bill -- the requirement that Americans purchase health insurance. Yesterday, the justices signaled that they are willing to rule on the constitutionality... more »

• High court takes up fight over Obama health law

  March 26, 2012 7:09 AM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's health care overhaul is front and center at the Supreme Court for three days of hearings to determine the fate of a law aimed at extending health insurance to more than 30 million Americans. The justices will hear arguments beginning today in a highly partisan... more »

• Owners of Hammond personal care business indicted in Medicaid fraud scheme

  February 14, 2012 3:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A Baton Rouge grand jury has returned indictments against the owners of a Hammond personal care business for their role in operating a criminal enterprise designed to siphon dollars from the Louisiana Medicaid Program. Several of the owners family members were also charged for their involvement in... more »

• LSU health cuts may affect thousands Play Video

  February 6, 2012 5:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The LSU Health Care system is making nearly $7 million in cuts involving the Earl K. Long Hospital System. As part of those moves, the EKL Mid City Pediatric Clinic on North Foster Drive will close March 2nd. LSU officials say it is necessary to deal with... more »

• Lawn maintenance crews, nurseries booming Play Video

  January 20, 2012 5:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Velton Ross says his lawn service normally has a lull for about three weeks during the winter. The mild weather conditions prevented that from happening this year. Ross says that is good financially and good for his physical condition. He says he has not gained weight... more »

• Federal officials approve La. Medicaid changes

  November 16, 2011 6:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Federal health care officials have approved the Jindal administration's plan to overhaul Louisiana's Medicaid program and run much of the program through managed care networks. State Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein announced the approval Wednesday of the program being called BAYOU HEALTH. ... more »

• EBR council approves 3 percent health care hike

  October 27, 2011 9:27 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La.- East Baton Rouge city-parish employees will pay an additional 3 percent in health insurance premiums next year after the Metro Council approved the increase. The council appeared deadlocked on the issue with about half of the members agreeing that the premium increases should pass, and the... more »

• Residents call for better care of animals at feed store in Port Allen

  August 17, 2011 5:48 PM

  PORT ALLEN- The West Baton Rouge Parish President says animals at a feed store in Port Allen are, at times, being neglected. Parish President Riley Berthelot plans to meet with the District Attorney tomorrow to discuss charging the store owner with animal cruelty. Animals were seized by Animal Control... more »

• 2 child care centers face losing licenses

  August 13, 2011 12:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE- State officials say two child care centers face losing their licenses for not obeying state laws regulating child care facilities. The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services says it has sent notices that it will revoke the licenses of God's Gift Child Care and Learning Center... more »

• Man booked after child in his care dies

  July 30, 2011 3:43 PM

  MONROE, La.- Monroe police have arrested a man in connection with the death of a 1-year-old child. Centavo R. Green, 21, of Monroe was booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center on Friday on charges including second-degree murder. An arrest affidavit shows that police were investigating the Thursday night... more »

• Personal care services agency owner arrested

  July 26, 2011 11:33 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The owner of a personal care services agency has been arrested and booked with defrauding the state's Medicaid program. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says Patricia A. Bell of Rayville surrendered to authorities last week. He says Bell, the owner of Cookies Helping Hand Inc., was charged... more »

• Auditor: Jindal administration refusing records

  May 2, 2011 3:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration has refused to hand over some information about a proposal to hire a private company to run a state worker health insurance program. Purpera says without the information, his auditors can't determine whether the privatization would be... more »

• Florida judge strikes down health overhaul

  January 31, 2011 2:29 PM

  PENSACOLA, Fla. - A federal judge in Florida says the Obama administration's health overhaul is unconstitutional, siding with 26 states that had sued to block it. U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson on Monday accepted without trial the states' argument that the new law violates people's rights by forcing them to... more »

• Three plead guilty to Medicare fraud

  January 25, 2011 6:05 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Three people pleaded guilty today to taking part in a health-care fraud plan to scam more than $5 million from Medicare. U. S. Attorney Don Cazayoux said today that Thompson W. Chinwoh, Stephanie Dangerfieldand Samuel B. Johnson could face up to ten years in prison for the... more »

• House votes to repeal year-old health care reforms

  January 19, 2011 5:15 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Republican-controlled House has voted to repeal the health care law President Barack Obama signed last year. The 245-189 vote marks the fulfillment of a promise many Republicans made in last fall's political campaigns. The measure has little or no chance of passing the Senate, where Democratic supporters... more »

• House Republicans schedule health care repeal vote

  January 3, 2011 4:09 PM

  WASHINGTON - Republican leaders in the new House say they'll hold a vote next week to repeal President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The announcement of the Jan. 12 vote by the No. 2 House Republican, Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, sets the stage for a showdown with the Democratic-led Senate.... more »

• La. health dept. prepares for health care overhaul

  November 23, 2010 1:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Even as Louisiana fights the federal health care overhaul law in court, state officials are quietly putting in place the building blocks to enact its provisions, if they are upheld. Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal has called the new law an improper expansion of federal government. But while... more »

• Health firms ask La. judge to order contract rebid

  November 23, 2010 11:19 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Attorneys for Humana and UnitedHealthcare have asked a state judge to order the rebidding of a contract awarded to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana to administer the HMO plan for state workers, retirees and their dependents. Lawyers representing Blue Cross and the state Office of... more »

• State says healthcare revamp won't start until 2011

  November 18, 2010 3:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - State health secretary Bruce Greenstein says it will be the end of 2011 before the state starts a new health care delivery system for the poor. The Advocate reports that Greenstein said Wednesday the Jindal administration is not backing off the proposed "coordinated care" plan, which would... 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 »

• Medicaid managed care program stalled for now

  October 25, 2010 2:36 PM

  The state's health secretary says he doesn't have a new timeline for when the Jindal administration plans to begin changes to the way Louisiana delivers health care to the poor through the Medicaid program. Concerns by health providers and lawmakers stalled the pilot program, which was supposed to begin in... more »

• State budget cuts target higher education, healthcare

  October 22, 2010 5:51 PM

  Governor Bobby Jindal issued an executive order to more than two dozen state agencies today, demanding a reduction in their budgets to deal with a shortfall of nearly $107 million in the last fiscal year. More than $36 million of that falls on higher education and more than $20... more »

• Suit challenges cutbacks in state home care

  September 24, 2010 8:45 AM

  A federal lawsuit has been filed against the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, saying that more than 11,000 state residents could be placed in institutions because of cutbacks in home care services. The New Orleans-based Advocacy Center filed the suit Wednesday in Baton Rouge. The suit alleges the people... more »

• Orleans clinics to stay open

  September 23, 2010 5:43 AM

  A partnership between state, federal and local governments will ensure that a network of community primary care health clinics will remain open in New Orleans. Low-income and uninsured residents will continue to have access to the clinics - regardless of their ability to pay - under a waiver negotiated by... more »

• Greenstein takes over as state health chief

  September 13, 2010 7:19 AM

  As Bruce Greenstein takes over as state health chief Monday, he sees his role as one of implementing and executing Gov. Bobby Jindal's health care initiatives. At the top of the list are the launch of a major overhaul of the way indigent health care is delivered in Louisiana and... more »

• Some states suing feds also claim health reform subsidies

  August 31, 2010 10:18 AM

  Some states suing to toss out President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law are also lining up to claim a share of its subsidies for the medical costs of retired employees. An administration official says seven states suing the federal government applied for and will receive subsidies to help... more »

• Volunteers organize free clinic in New Orleans this week

  August 30, 2010 10:26 AM

  People without health insurance can get the care they need at a free clinic in New Orleans this week. The National Association of Free Clinics is holding a large medical clinic for the uninsured this Tuesday and Wednesday, August 31 and September 1, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.... more »

• Report: Employers to see 2011 medical costs jump

  June 14, 2010 5:51 AM

  A consulting firm says next year U.S. companies should anticipate another big increase in medical costs and many workers will be expected to pay a bigger share. The PricewaterhouseCoopers report says for the first time, most of the American workforce is expected to have health insurance deductibles of $400 or... more »

• Agreement reached in disability lawsuit

  April 21, 2010 9:38 AM

  A developmentally disabled man at the heart of a lawsuit over the state's care assessment system will get the services he needs to stay out of an institution. Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals officials have agreed to provide the care for Bryan Stein. The lawsuit alleged that a tool... more »

• N.O. man pleads guilty to health care fraud

  February 19, 2010 5:04 AM

  Federal prosecutors say a 33-year-old New Orleans man has pleaded guilty to health care fraud. Taurus Robinson pleaded guilty to creating false time sheets and daily schedules for personal care services between December 2003 and April 2005. The U.S. attorney's office says his actions amounted to about $32,000 in fraudulent... more »

• La. Congressmen to address health care debate

  October 18, 2009 3:58 PM

  Two Louisiana congressmen plan to address the ongoing debate about overhauling the nation's health care on Monday. U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, from Baton Rouge, and Rep. Steve Scalise both have planned meetings on the issue. Cassidy will deliver remarks and take questions on health care from members of... more »