HJBR Jan/Feb 2023

As we begin the long road to recovery from a historic pandemic, our state has reached a critical juncture. Louisiana has long ranked at the bottom of lists evaluating health and well-being, and the COVID-19 pandemic has taken an immense toll. Areas of intense struggle, like behavioral health, have been exacerbated by one of the biggest public health crises of our time. While this crisis brought enormous grief and trauma, it also led to introspection and invaluable learning experiences. COVID-19 compelled us to deepen and strengthen community partnerships, break barriers between silos, and use innovative outreach methods to keep our residents as safe and healthy as possible. Through these partnerships, intentional community outreach, and a sharp focus on saving lives, we saw real results. As we emerge from the pandemic, we must extend this sense of passion and urgency into other areas of healthcare, where so many existing health conditions continue to impact Louisiana lives. A year ago, the Louisiana Department of Health launched our FY22 business plan for moving the dial on health issues that deeply impact our state. The plan was far-reaching and ambitious, encompassing initiatives and services from every program office in our agency. Together, we made progress amid staggering hits from Hurricanes Laura and Ida, the winter weather storm and tornadoes, an ongoing COVID pan- demic, and the more recent challenge of monkeypox. Through purposeful partnerships and strategies, we completed 88% of our 42 goals and 95% of our 258 deliverables, and guided measurable improve- ments in behavioral, maternal, and dental health services; chronic disease prevention and detection; public water systems; and workforce development. We focused on areas like colorectal cancer, which despite being highly treatable and survivable through early detention, claims more lives on average in Louisiana than most of the country. We achieved our FY22 goal of increasing statewide screening rates by 2 percentage points — representing hun- dreds more chances to catch this cancer in time. We made advancements in maternal health, working with the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC) to reduce low-risk, first-time Cesarean section births. Between 2020 and late 2021, we reduced these C-section births from 33% to 28.5% — meaning more Louisiana women experienced safer, healthier births. Between August 2021 and June 2022, we increased breastfeeding peer counselor coverage in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics from 43% to 73% statewide. This means more professional support provided to Louisiana moms, and more infants gaining a healthier, stronger start. We implemented a new directed payment model for hospitals that both meets U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance and benefits our most vulnerable residents. The new model, which changes the way we reimburse hospitals for care provided to Medicaid patients, reflects close collaboration with CMS, hospital providers, the Louisiana Hospital Association, legislators, and other stakeholders. Though some goals went unmet, for reasons ranging from data delays, provider shortages, and national workforce trends to construction delays and supply issues, these unfinished goals offer a chance to learn and redirect efforts. The LDH FY23 business plan will further our FY22 work in critical areas, including behavioral, maternal, and dental health; chronic disease; workforce expansion and diversification; and transparency and accountability. Through collaboration with partners and stakeholders, we will continue the push to prevent colorectal cancer through early detection while also improv- ing resources for Louisianans struggling with Sickle Cell Disease. We will build on progress made in maternal health while striving to improve until every expectant mother receives dignified, respectful care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. We will expand behavioral health crisis intervention services to better reach everyone in crisis, including teens, postpartum mothers, and rural residents. We will better invest in Louisiana high school and college students to draw them into the health arena, to advance their career goals, and fill critical gaps in the healthcare workforce. Through collaboration with Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), community partners, and clinicians, we will boost screenings for cardiovas- cular disease and connect residents with effective prevention and management programs. We will partner with nonprofit and state agencies to increase access to nutritious foods and safe physical activity, and work with Medicaid to expand access to smoking cessation programs. Together, we can lower our higher-than-average rates of cardiovascular disease. Better health and improved quality of life are within reach if we pull together and act with purpose. This work is hard but achievable and a healthy Louisiana is worth the effort and investment. Thank you to #TeamLDH and all of our stakeholders for your consistent hard work and support in bettering our state. LDH Secretary #TeamLDH HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  JAN / FEB 2023 19 Editor’s note: Secretary Phillips’ team approached us and asked if in lieu of the Secretary’s Column this issue, we thought readers would be interested in seeing LDH’s business plan for the fiscal year 2023. Upon review, we thought you would, and although we did not have room for the entire plan, included are the first three commitments, including the initiatives, goals, and deliverables. Details on the final two commitments can be found on the LDH website. As an industry, we are all in this together — to lift the health of our citizens. Still, we have a way to go to be on par with the rest of the country. We wish Dr. Phillips and the entire team at LDH Godspeed.