WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• State health department hires inspector general

  May 15, 2013 5:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state Department of Health and Hospitals has hired a new inspector general to review spending and fight fraud. The hiring of William Root, announced Wednesday, comes after Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration canceled a nearly $200 million Medicaid contract whose award is being investigated by state and... more »

• Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Play Video

  May 14, 2013 10:56 PM

  PORT ALLEN- Mosquitoes in traps in West Baton Rouge have tested positive for West Nile, the potentially dangerous disease carried by the bugs. The positive results were found earlier than usual. So, crews have started spraying parts of the parish, first focusing on areas where the bugs were found... more »

• 89 charged in Medicare fraud busts in 8 cities

  May 14, 2013 1:27 PM

  WASHINGTON - Nearly 100 people, including 11 in Louisiana, are being charged for their roles in separate Medicare scams that billed the taxpayer-funded program for roughly $223 million in bogus charges spanning eight cities. Tuesday's announcement by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder marks... 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 »

• US government files morning-after pill appeal

  May 13, 2013 11:19 AM

  NEW YORK - The government has filed a last-second appeal that will delay the sale of the morning-after contraceptive pill to girls of any age without a prescription. The appeal was filed shortly before a noon Monday deadline. Brooklyn federal Judge Edward Korman says politics is behind efforts by Secretary... more »

• US stock market falls after retail sales report

  May 13, 2013 9:04 AM

  NEW YORK- The U.S. stock market is falling in early trading to begin a week full of hints about the health of the nation's retailers. Americans boosted spending at retail stores in April, according to the Commerce Department, surprising some economists. Earlier declines on major markets were cut in half... more »

• 2 Your Health stories for May 10 Play Video

  May 10, 2013 6:06 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Here are the 2 Your Health stories for May 10, 2013. Americans love to eat out, but cooking your own meals is better for waistlines. "It is the easiest thing you can do to improve your health," said Michael Pollan, author of the new book... 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 »

• Woman in anti-smoking PSA says her daughter helped her kick the habit Play Video

  May 8, 2013 5:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Pictures are all that Tiffany Roberson has left of her mother, who died from lung cancer when Tiffany was just 16. "She missed out on, of course, senior prom, my high school and college. She missed out on the birth of my daughter," she told News... 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 »

• Getting athletes back on the field after concussions

  May 8, 2013 10:25 AM

  BATON ROUGE- New technology is changing the way physical therapist and doctors treat and track concussions for student athletes. Using cognitive tests and balance measurements, Certified Athletic Trainers can get hard data on patients who have suffered a concussion and that can help doctors make a better decision on... more »

• Keep your skin looking hot this summer Play Video

  May 6, 2013 5:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Just in time for summer, aesthetic dermatologist Dr. Anne Zedlitz has some tips for keeping your skin looking hot now without sacrificing it later. Dr. Z started her series of tips, "How to look hot now and 10 years from now", today on News 2 at... more »

• New technology to guard against youth concussions

  May 6, 2013 10:29 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's contact sports leave little room for error and often that can lead to injuries on the field. Many times high school athletes experience concussions after big hits, but trainers, coaches, and officials are getting better at recognizing the symptoms. News 2 will look into... more »

• Senate committee backs Medicaid expansion model

  April 30, 2013 6:53 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A proposal for Louisiana to tap into the federal health overhaul money available for expanding Medicaid has won approval from the state Senate's health committee, despite opposition from Gov. Bobby Jindal. The committee voted 4-3 Tuesday to send a modified Medicaid expansion bill to the full Senate... more »

• FDA: Morning-after pill to move over-the-counter

  April 30, 2013 4:59 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Plan B morning-after pill is moving over-the-counter, a decision announced by the Food and Drug Administration just days before a court-imposed deadline. Tuesday, the FDA lowered to 15 the age at which girls and women can buy the emergency contraceptive without a prescription - and said it... more »

• NFL group, company teaming up for brain drug test

  April 24, 2013 10:45 AM

  NEW YORK - A potential treatment for traumatic brain injuries may be tested in retired professional football players, who are the focus of concern over blows to the head. Neuralstem, Inc., of Rockville, Md., said Wednesday it is working with the National Football League Alumni Association to study the feasibility... more »

• Iberville council delays awarding clinic contract

  April 18, 2013 8:16 AM

  PLAQUEMINE - Because the bids opened for the new Iberville Parish Ochsner Health Clinic were all higher than expected, the Parish Council delayed for at least two weeks awarding the project until further details can be worked out. The lowest bidder was Lincoln Builders of Baton Rouge at $19.6... more »

• Battling skin redness and rosacea Play Video

  April 15, 2013 6:11 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Dr. Z discussed how to combat skin redness from rosacea today on News 2 at 4. She talked about what happens if you don't treat rosacea, and if it can ever fully disappear. If you have questions or topic suggestions for Dr. Z, email them... more »

• EKL shuts down Play Video

  April 15, 2013 8:10 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The capital city enters a new era of health care Monday as a longstanding medical facility has closed its doors for good. Earl K. Long was forced to shut down due to state budget cuts and changes in the LSU Health System. The hospital has... more »

• Earl K. Long Memorial closes this weekend Play Video

  April 12, 2013 4:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE - In less than three days, Earl K. Long Memorial Hospital will shut its doors for good. The hospital's closing due to changes in the LSU Health System and state budget cuts. Officials have transferred much of the hospital's services to other hospitals and clinics around... more »

• Woman uses diagnosis to raise national awareness Play Video

  April 11, 2013 6:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A Baton Rouge woman became one of the faces of the "Go Red" heart health movement after discovering a potentially-deadly disorder. Mary Leah Coco said when she was 30 she noticed she was always exhausted, light-headed, and dizzy. She chalked it up to her busy life.... more »

• Louisiana company recalls deli meat

  April 11, 2013 3:14 PM

  BAKER- Manda Packing Company is recalling more than 20,000 pounds of cooked deli meat after a sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The cooked roast beef came from a retail establishment. There have been no reports of illnesses. But, the company is recalling a number of roast beef... more »

• Jindal won't seek to follow Arkansas on Medicaid Play Video

  April 9, 2013 6:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's private hospitals are supporting the expansion of the state Medicaid program under the federal health care law. The Louisiana Hospital Association's announcement Tuesday puts the organization at odds with Gov. Bobby Jindal, who opposes the expansion. The announcement comes the same day the Jindal administration said... more »

• Hitting the gym with survivor Gen. Russel Honore Play Video

  April 8, 2013 5:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE - When Gen. Russel Honore went into the hospital in June 2012, seven years after leading the federal disaster response to Hurricane Katrina, he thought he was experiencing a case of heartburn. Then his doctors told him one of his main arteries was blocked. He was actually... more »

• Learning to spot the symptoms of a heart attack Play Video

  April 1, 2013 6:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE - John Pastorek starts 2013's Reduce Your Risk series with a look at how quick treatment saved a St. Francisville man's life. Bob Ramelli said he knew something was wrong when he started feeling very dizzy. The 59-year-old businessman said he never gets sick. Ramelli rushed... more »

• Greenstein resigns as DHH secretary

  March 29, 2013 4:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal's office announced today that Bruce Greenstein has resigned as secretary of the Dept. of Health and Hospitals during federal and state investigations of a controversial Medicaid contract. The Jindal administration canceled the nearly $200 million Medicaid contract with CNSI after word of a... more »

• Mandela in hospital with lung infection

  March 28, 2013 8:22 AM

  JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's president says Nelson Mandela is responding "positively" to treatments after being admitted to a hospital with a lung infection. The office of President Jacob Zuma says in a statement that the 94-year-old former president and anti-apartheid leader went to the hospital just before midnight on... more »

• Obama health law anniversary finds two Americas

  March 21, 2013 12:42 PM

  WASHINGTON - Three years, two elections, and one Supreme Court decision after President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, its promise of health care for the uninsured may be delayed or undercut in much of the country because of entrenched opposition from many Republican state leaders. In half the... more »

• 2 former health chiefs push La. Medicaid expansion

  March 15, 2013 4:05 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Two former Louisiana health care secretaries are urging Gov. Bobby Jindal to reconsider his opposition to the Medicaid expansion allowed under the federal health overhaul. David Hood was secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals under Republican former Gov. Mike Foster. Fred Cerise was DHH secretary... more »

• Heart-lung machines prove safe even in the elderly

  March 11, 2013 11:01 AM

  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - New research shows that stopping the heart for bypass surgery is safe even in the elderly. Heart bypass is one of the most common operations in the world and patients often are given a choice of how to have it done. The usual way involves stopping... more »

• Study shows declining life span for some US women

  March 5, 2013 8:54 AM

  NEW YORK - Women still live longer than men but a new study finds some U.S. women aren't living as long as they used to. The latest research found that women age 75 and younger are dying at higher rates than previous years in nearly half of the nation's counties... more »

• Queen Elizabeth leaves hospital

  March 4, 2013 9:05 AM

  LONDON - Queen Elizabeth II has left a central London hospital, one day after being admitted for a severe stomach bug. She walked out of King Edward VII Hospital Monday afternoon wearing a red dress, and was driven away in a motorcade. The hospital stay had initially been... more »

• 2 Your Health stories for March 1, 2013 Play Video

  March 1, 2013 6:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Here's your 2 Your Health stories for March 1, 2013: Many school districts cut physical education classes to devote more time to academics, but exercise gives kids an edge in the classroom. Physically-fit kids are more than twice as likely to pass standardized math and... more »

• First lady announces effort to help kids exercise

  February 28, 2013 7:34 AM

  CHICAGO - Imagine students learning their ABCs while dancing, or memorizing multiplication tables while doing jumping jacks. Some schools are using both methods of instruction, and Michelle Obama would like to see more of them use creative ways to help students get the recommended hour of daily exercise. Today in... more »

• Treating acne through facial infusions Play Video

  February 25, 2013 5:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Dr. Z continues her series on acne by explaining the process of facial infusion treatment. The procedure uses micro-needles to infuse skin with chemicals to treat acne and improve complexion. Dr. Z compared the feeling of the micro-needling to getting licked by a cat's tongue. ... more »

• Parents warned of scabies at school

  February 22, 2013 10:43 PM

  CLINTON- The school system in East Feliciana Parish alerted parents Friday that at least one school had an outbreak of scabies. Scabies is easily transferable. The outbreak was found at Clinton Elementary, but since students share transportation, families at all schools were notified. The school was disinfected.... more »

• Dentists focus on children's dental health Play Video

  February 22, 2013 5:00 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Dr. Ammar A. Mekari stopped by to bring awareness to children's healthy teeth. February is National Children's Dental Health month. Mekari said children fear visits to the dentist because they think it will hurt. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should visit... more »

• Flu shot did poor job against worst bug in seniors

  February 21, 2013 11:08 AM

  ATLANTA- Health officials say this season's flu shot is only 9 percent effective in protecting seniors against the most common and dangerous flu bug. Flu vaccine tends to protect younger people better than older ones and is never 100 percent effective. But experts say the preliminary results released Thursday are... more »

• Iberville council discusses new medical facility

  February 20, 2013 6:57 AM

  PLAQUEMINE - Iberville Parish President J. Mitchell Ourso Jr. says the parish is set to advertise for bids to build the planned Ochsner Health System medical complex along Highway 1. On Feb. 28, Ourso says the Iberville Parish medical facility is going out for public bid. Construction is expected to... more »

• Governor's Mansion goes red for Heart Health Month

  February 14, 2013 11:11 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Governor's Mansion will glow red for Heart Health Month. This is the fifth year in a row that the Mansion will be lit red to highlight the impact of cardiovascular disease on all our citizens, but particularly women. It will be red from Feb. 14... more »

• Catholics confident church will remain strong Play Video

  February 11, 2013 5:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Some Catholics in Baton Rouge were surprised by Pope Benedict's announcement he would be stepping down at the end of February. Others, including some church leaders, say there have been some signs and rumors. Father Tom Ranzino says Benedict's health appeared to be a bigger issue in... more »

• New whooping cough strain in US raises questions

  February 7, 2013 2:53 AM

  NEW YORK - Researchers have discovered the first U.S. cases of whooping cough caused by a germ that may be vaccine resistant. Health officials are looking into whether that might be one reason why the U.S. just had its worst year for whooping cough in six decades. The new bug... more »

• Safety group: Student athletes need bill of rights

  February 6, 2013 10:35 AM

  WASHINGTON - A coalition of more than 100 groups is recommending that student athletes have access to health care professionals, better-trained coaches and up-to-date equipment. The recommendations released Wednesday are included in a call to action designed to protect the nearly 8 million students who participate in high school sports... more »

• Critics seek to delay NYC sugary drinks size limit

  February 5, 2013 10:59 AM

  NEW YORK- Opponents of New York City's plan to crack down on supersized, sugary drinks have asked a judge to keep it from taking effect next month. Groups representing the beverage industry, restaurateurs and other business interests filed the request Friday in a Manhattan court. They want to hold off... more »

• Health stories for Jan. 31, 2013 Play Video

  January 31, 2013 2:40 PM

  UNDATED - Here are today's 2 Your Health stories for Jan. 31, 2013 - Researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge are taking a skeptical look at some popular weight loss myths, which they believe can lead to bad policy changes and public health recommendations. ... more »

• Skincare options for your chest, neck Play Video

  January 28, 2013 5:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Dr. Z joined WBRZ's Rosa Flores Monday during the 4pm to chat about taking care of the skin on the chest. She calls it, 'beyond facial aesthetics'. Dr. Z has before and after photos that tell the story. If you have questions for Dr. Z,... more »

• 16 sick in 5 states; linked to ground beef recall

  January 28, 2013 10:52 AM

  NEW YORK - Federal health officials say at least 16 people in five states have been sickened by salmonella food poisoning linked to ground beef. No one has died, but half were hospitalized. Most of the illnesses have been in Michigan, but a few cases were scattered in Arizona, Illinois,... more »

• Gatorade to remove controversial ingredient

  January 25, 2013 11:31 AM

  NEW YORK- PepsiCo Inc. is removing a controversial ingredient from its Gatorade sports drink following customer complaints. A spokeswoman for the company, Molly Carter, says the move was in the works for the past year after the company began "hearing rumblings" from consumers about the ingredient. She said it wasn't... more »

• Earl K. Long hospital to close in April

  January 25, 2013 2:47 AM

  BATON ROUGE - LSU is moving up the date it will close Earl K. Long Medical Center in north Baton Rouge. LSU System Executive Vice President Frank Opelka says the facility will close in mid-April instead of November as originally planned under an agreement where patient care and medical... more »

• Things to know before having plastic surgery Play Video

  January 24, 2013 5:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Doctor J. Anthony Stephens, M.D., talked about the things you need to know or ask before you schedule a consultation for plastic surgery. He recommends getting to know who your surgeon is. That includes making sure the doctor is certified by a board approved by the American... more »

• DHH to create inspector general office Play Video

  January 23, 2013 6:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Medicare and medicaid abuse nationally costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. To help prevent abuse here, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is hiring an inspector general. DHH Secretary Bruce Greenstein says recent state audits have shown a need for greater payment controls involving Medicaid.... more »

• DHH: Hospice program to stay open, get reforms Play Video

  January 23, 2013 4:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE - State health officials announced late this afternoon that the Medicaid Hospice Program would not end on Feb. 1 as scheduled. Secretary Bruce Greenstein with the Dept. Of Health and Hospitals said enough money from existing grants had been found to keep the program going until reforms... more »

• Vigil planned to protest Medicaid hospice cut

  January 23, 2013 5:21 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Families of the terminally ill and health care workers are holding a protest of Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to shutter the state's Medicaid hospice program in February. Supporters of the program, which provides at-home, end-of-life care for people who can't afford private insurance coverage, scheduled a... more »

• Making changes 40 years after Roe vs. Wade Play Video

  January 22, 2013 6:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Today marks 40 years since the Roe v. Wade decision, making abortion legal in the United States. Pro-choice advocates say prior to Roe vs. Wade, abortions were dangerous and to be a patient of an abortion was a crime. "Women could not get safe abortions,"... more »

• Flu remains widespread in US; eases in some areas

  January 18, 2013 10:24 AM

  ATLANTA - Health officials say nine more deaths of children from the flu have been reported, bringing the total this flu season to 29. In a typical season, about 100 children die of the flu, so it is not known whether this year will be better or worse than usual.... more »

• 2 women charged with Medicaid fraud

  January 18, 2013 6:47 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says a personal care attendant from New Orleans and one from Bastrop have been booked with unrelated charges of Medicaid fraud. He says both 23-year-old Lakeiqua Green of New Orleans and 31-year-old Jolonda Huff of Bastrop are accused of submitting time-sheets... 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 »

• Report: Baton Rouge second in HIV cases

  January 17, 2013 7:20 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds the Baton Rouge metro area ranks second among major United States metro areas for new HIV infection diagnoses. The report, released Jan. 10, is based on 2010 data of all U.S. metropolitan areas with more... more »

• Obama taking 23 actions aimed at gun violence

  January 16, 2013 11:18 AM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is taking 23 executive actions aimed at curbing gun violence that don't require congressional action, including measures to encourage schools to hire police officers, increase research on gun violence and improve efforts to prosecute gun crime. The executive actions are part of an overarching... 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 »

• Ex-President George H.W. Bush leaves the hospital

  January 14, 2013 10:35 AM

  HOUSTON - Former President George H.W. Bush has left a Houston hospital where he spent nearly two months recovering from an illness that began with a bronchitis-related cough. Bush spokesman Jim McGrath says the 88-year-old Bush was released Monday from Methodist Hospital. He was admitted Nov. 23, the day after... more »

• Orleans groundbreaking heralds return of hospital

  January 11, 2013 6:57 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Archbishop Gregory Aymond are among the dignitaries set to take part in the groundbreaking for a facility aimed at bringing full hospital service back to the New Orleans East area. The $130 million project is to be constructed on the... more »

• Taking care of your neck Play Video

  January 7, 2013 5:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Today on News 2 at 4, dermatologist Dr. Z talks about an area of our skin many people overlook: the neck. She discussed a new ultrasound treatment called Ulthera that's a non-surgical way to slow the aging process along the neck, which can lead to excess... 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 »

• Report: Death rate from cancer still inching down

  January 7, 2013 3:25 PM

  WASHINGTON - Researchers say death rates from cancer are continuing to inch down. Cancer deaths began slowly dropping during the 1990s, and today's report shows the trend holding. Among men, cancer death rates dropped by 1.8 percent a year between 2000 and 2009. The rate declined by 1.4 percent a... more »

• CDC says data shows worsening flu season

  January 7, 2013 10:26 AM

  ATLANTA - Health officials say this flu season is shaping up to be one of the more severe in recent years. Earlier reports indicated that this could be a bad flu season, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the data now confirm it. In the last week... 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 »

• Clinton talking to staff as she recovers from clot

  January 2, 2013 2:52 PM

  WASHINGTON - Doctors say they expect Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to make a full recovery from a blood clot in her head. They also say there has been no neurological damage from the clot, which apparently developed when Clinton fainted and fell at her home. A stomach virus... more »

• Brain image study: Fructose may spur overeating

  January 1, 2013 3:51 PM

  UNDATED - Scientists are using imaging tests to show for the first time that fructose can trigger brain changes that may lead to overeating. Fructose is a sugar that saturates the American diet. Researchers have found that after drinking a fructose beverage, the brain doesn't resister the feeling of being... more »

• Clinton receiving blood thinners to dissolve clot

  January 1, 2013 8:21 AM

  WASHINGTON - Doctors treating Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for a blood clot in her head say blood thinners are being used to dissolve the clot and say they are confident she will make a full recovery. Clinton's doctors say the former first lady didn't suffer a stroke... more »

• How to keep your New Year's resolutions Play Video

  December 27, 2012 5:42 PM

  BATON ROUGE - As the calendar page turns into a new year, many people are thinking about making resolutions to better their lives. But the trick to keep those resolutions, is setting yourself up for success. Some of the top resolutions include losing weight and getting fit. Health experts... more »

• South Africa: Mandela in good spirits in hospital

  December 26, 2012 7:01 AM

  JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's presidency says former leader Nelson Mandela, who has been in a hospital since Dec. 8, is looking better and in good spirits. Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said Wednesday that 94-year-old Mandela's condition "remains as it was yesterday." President Jacob Zuma had joined Mandela's wife,... more »

• Community health briefing tonight over sinkhole

  December 13, 2012 10:56 AM

  BAYOU CORNE - Health and environmental officials scheduled a community briefing tonight to for Bayou Corne residents evacuated due to a sinkhole near their homes. DHH and DEQ, along with parish officials, said they will specifically address health concerns residents had previously brought up. They will not have information... more »

• Hospital privatization plan gets commission approval Play Video

  December 12, 2012 5:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana Civil Service Commission approved a play to layoff 350 employees at the state-run Southeast Louisiana Hospital, a mental facility located in Mandeville. The state is closing the hospital and allowing it to reopen under the control of private contractors. State health leaders say it's no... 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 »

• Feds rule on health care law's Medicaid expansion

  December 10, 2012 3:30 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Obama administration says Republican-led states must commit to fully expanding their Medicaid programs to take advantage of generous funding in the federal health care law. Monday's ruling affects the federal-state program that covers nearly 60 million low-income and severely disabled people. President Barack Obama's health care law... more »

• Bush, 41st president, still in Houston hospital

  December 10, 2012 11:03 AM

  HOUSTON - Former President George H.W. Bush continues to recover at a Houston hospital where he's in the third week of treatment for a bronchitis-related cough. Methodist Hospital spokesman George Kovacik said Monday that the 88-year-old Bush remains in stable condition. Kovacik says Bush continues to make progress but no... more »

• Ex-President Bush improves, still hospitalized

  December 5, 2012 12:29 PM

  HOUSTON - Former President George H.W. Bush is undergoing more physical therapy as part of treatment for a painful cough that has forced him to stay in a Houston hospital for almost two weeks. Methodist Hospital spokesman George Kovacik said Wednesday that the 41st president remains in stable condition with... 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 »

• Feds propose fee on health insurers in new market

  November 30, 2012 3:58 PM

  WASHINGTON - Health insurance companies will have to pay to play in new health insurance markets coming under President Barack Obama's health care law. The federal Health and Human Services department said Friday it is proposing a "user fee" amounting to 3.5 percent of premiums for health insurers who want... more »

• The neckline of your dreams Play Video

  November 29, 2012 5:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The aging face has been studied for decades. Today, advancements in medicine can help young and old change the way they look and feel about themselves. Dr. Anthony Stephens shows WBRZ's Rosa Flores how someone with a 'turkey neck,' or with excess skin around the neck,... more »

• Consumer watchdog asks FDA to revisit compounders

  November 29, 2012 8:42 AM

  WASHINGTON - A government watchdog group is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to re-inspect more than a dozen specialty pharmacies with prior records of violations, in light of a recent deadly outbreak tied to compounded drugs. Contaminated pain injections from a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy have been blamed... more »

• Residents still worried during plant fire cleanup Play Video

  November 28, 2012 5:20 PM

  SLAUGHTER - Crews began dismantling the building that once stood as Monolyte Labs, Inc. Construction equipment is working to expose the interior of the building, to give investigators a better look inside. Monlyte Labs, Inc. and Slaughter officials held a town meeting last night to update the public and... more »

• Judge orders tobacco companies to say they lied

  November 27, 2012 3:16 PM

  WASHINGTON - A federal judge is ordering tobacco companies to publish corrective statements that say they lied about the dangers of smoking and to disclose smoking's health effects, including the death of 1,200 people a day. U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler had already said she wanted the industry to... 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 »

• Audit: Restaurant inspections don't ensure safety

  November 26, 2012 2:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A new audit says Louisiana's Office of Public Health has fallen short in its inspections of restaurants and other retail establishments that serve food, failing to ensure the meals are safe. The audit says the state issued permits to restaurants that didn't correct past violations, rarely assessed... more »

• 15 new West Nile cases, 1 death this past week

  November 19, 2012 3:00 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The state health department says 15 new West Nile virus cases and one death from the virus have been reported in the past week. In addition, one patient's illness changed from flu-like West Nile fever to a dangerous "neuroinvasive" infection affecting the brain or spinal cord. State... 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 »