HJBR May/Jun 2024

30 MAY / JUN 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs Attendees have the opportunity to earn over 20 continuing medical education units. The confer- ence is appropriate for medical professionals of all levels, including not only physicians, but fel- lows, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, cath lab technicians, healthcare admin- istrators and more. Topics will cover cardiology, internal medicine, interventions, radiology, struc- tural heart, podiatry, wound healing, the business of medicine, and much more. This is also a unique opportunity to connect with leading experts in the industry. To register, see the agenda, or find accommo- dations, visit www.ncvh.org/2024. Louisiana Epilepsy Care and Research Consortium Holds Conference The second annual conference of the Louisi- ana Epilepsy Care and Research Consortium was held on January 20 at the Higgins Hotel in New Orleans. The program, in collaboration with the Epilepsy Foundation of Louisiana, was structured to engage professionals about public health chal- lenges related to epilepsy care, innovations and developments in the field, and promote research collaborations. Fawad A. Khan, MD, CPPS, section head of the International Center for Epilepsy at Ochsner and Nicole Villemarette-Pittman, PhD, director of clin- ical research for the Neuroscience Research Cen- ter of Excellence, started a nonprofit organization in 2023 to build a society of professionals within the state of Louisiana that focuses on clinical care and research in the epilepsy community. The conference keynote speaker was Swaroop Aradhya, MD, chief of global medical affairs and chief scientific officer for rare diseases, Invitae Corporation. He shared insights into the future of precision medicine in epilepsy. Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Hosts ‘Untie the Ribbons’ Event Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center hosted its 2nd annual “Untie the Ribbons” educational event on March 9 at the Southern University Museum of Art Culture and Heritage Center, 8320 G. Leon Netterville Drive in Baton Rouge. This year’s theme was “Weight No More” and focused on the impact of obesity on breast and colorectal Louisiana Considers Medicaid Coverage for Menopausal Treatment Louisiana lawmakers would mandate the state’s Medicaid program cover treatment for meno- pause and perimenopause symptoms under pro- posed legislation. Rep. Aimee Freeman, D-New Orleans, drafted House Bill 392 after hearing from a physician that health insurance companies refuse to cover hor- monal treatment for perimenopause and meno- pause. The doctor told her estrogen and pro- gesterone supplements were among the most commonly rejected. The legislation only requires Medicaid to offer menopausal and perimenopausal treatment. Freeman said private insurance plans, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, already cover those medical needs and do not need to be addressed in her bill. Menopause and perimenopause typically affects women in their 40s and 50s as they tran- sition out of their child-bearing years. Symp- toms can include irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, vaginal problems, bladder prob- lems, sleep disturbances, loss of bone density and higher cholesterol. Medication, including estrogen and progester- one, can help manage the conditions. The House Committee on Health and Welfare voted 12-0 for the bill, which will now go to the full Louisiana House for consideration. Printed with permission. O’Donoghue, J. “Lou- isiana considers Medicaid coverage for meno- pausal, perimenopausal treatment.” The Louisi- ana Illuminator, Mar. 30, 2024. https://lailluminator. com/briefs/medicaid-menopause/ FranU LaunchesWolfpack: Health Fellows Academy Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University will launch Wolfpack: Health Fellows Academy, a three-year pilot project to engage 120 students with intensive, immersive educational experi- ences leading to heightened awareness of health- care careers, personal wellness, and community health beginning Summer 2024. HFA is designed for high school students from communities defined by low quality-of-life met- rics, including healthcare access/outcomes and low participation rates in post-secondary edu- cation. Goals include increasing the number of capable and highly motivated high school stu- dents interested in entering and completing healthcare-related studies; expanding career and educational choices of under resourced, diverse high school students; and supporting the per- sonal health of each Fellow and the members of their communities. NewCardiovascular Horizons Conference SlatedMay 28-31 in NewOrleans Bringing physicians from around the world together for a comprehensive review of cardio- vascular medicine, the 25th annual New Car- diovascular Horizons (NCVH) accredited confer- ence will take place May 28-31 at The Roosevelt Hotel, 130 Roosevelt Way in New Orleans. New this year is a special 25th silver anniversary cele- bration for participants on Wednesday evening at the Orpheum Theater. Each year, this conference unites medical pro- fessionals of all specialties with one common goal — to improve cardiovascular care and outcomes by sharing the latest treatments and therapies for cardiovascular diseases, the number one cause of death across the world. With conditions like peripheral artery disease and vein disease affect- ing more than 50 million Americans, education on late-breaking advancements and technology are necessary to improve the diagnosis and treat- ment of these conditions to reduce morbidity, mortality, cost, and amputations. The conference fosters collaboration, innovation, and the collec- tive sharing of knowledge to elevate patient care. “New Cardiovascular Horizons provides an edu- cational format on the latest in cardiovascular medicine and the treatment of cardiovascular dis- eases, not only for what’s happening in our coun- try, but what’s happening around the world,” said Craig M. Walker, MD, conference founder and interventional cardiologist, and founder of car- diology practice, Cardiovascular Institute of the South. “It is imperative for all disciplines of medi- cine to understand these complex conditions and how to treat them properly and effectively. We will also break down trending topics like vein disease, pulmonary embolism, and how diabetic medi- cations are revolutionizing cardiovascular care.”