HJNO Jan/Feb 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  JAN / FEB 2024 43 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalNO.com • Use evidence-based tobacco prevention and cessation services. • Promote recommended vaccinations. • Recommend pulmonary rehabilitation, COPD education and a COPD action plan. Louisiana is one of 11 states with the highest COPD rates and highest burden in the country. The other states are Alabama, Arkansas, Indi- ana, Kentucky, Missouri, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia. COPD prevalence rates range from 3.7% in Hawaii to 13.6% in West Virginia. The goal of the COPD State Briefs is to raise awareness for COPD and empower public health and healthcare professionals to take actionable steps to prevent the onset of illness, reduce health inequities, set goals for earlier diagnosis, and ensure clinical guidelines are used to man- age and treat COPD. The COPD State Briefs were created with sup- port by Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion. Learn more and view the COPD State Briefs at Lung.org/COPD-briefs. LAHealthcare Connections Partners with LA State Medical Society to Empower Independent Medical Practices In a strategic move to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality for independent medical practices in Louisiana, Louisiana Healthcare Con- nections, a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, is joining forces with the Louisiana State Medical Society (LSMS). This collaborative initiative aims to extend value-based payments and quality incentives to independent practi- tioners, enabling them to harness the benefits of economies of scale. Additionally, a $1 million investment is being made by Louisiana Health- care Connections to enable participating prac- tices to implement electronic medical records. Louisiana Healthcare Connections Chief Med- ical Officer, Stewart T. Gordon, MD, FAAP, said, "As a physician deeply committed to improv- ing the Louisiana system of healthcare, I am excited about the possibilities this collaboration between LSMS and Louisiana Healthcare Con- nections offers to independent medical prac- tices. By pooling together to participate in value- based payment models, independent practices gain opportunities to improve quality outcomes for their patients, at a reduced cost. This impor- tant partnership will strengthen the practice of medicine for those physicians desiring to remain independent. Ultimately, this means better care for Louisiana’s Medicaid members.” The Louisiana State Medical Society's Health Information Exchange (HIE), HealthSYNC, plays a pivotal role in this collaboration. By partnering with Louisiana Healthcare Connections, the HIE aims to enhance interoperability for indepen- dent primary care practices across the state. This breakthrough initiative enables small indepen- dent practices in Louisiana to participate in value- based payment models for Medicaid members, thus improving healthcare quality and outcomes. "The Louisiana State Medical Society is proud to partner with KONZA National Network, a health information exchange, to develop, imple- ment, and operationalize HealthSYNC state- wide," said LSMS Director of HealthSYNC, Jer- emy Lapeyrouse, MPH. "This collaboration ensures that our members have a simple, stream- lined solution to access national and state health information exchanges, comply with government quality program measures, gain deeper insights, and utilize powerful analytic tools. This work aligns with our vision of promoting excellence in the practice of medicine." This partnership between LSMS and Louisiana Healthcare Connections offers independent med- ical providers the opportunity to collaborate with a leading Medicaid provider and participate in value-based payment models. Louisiana Healthcare Connections Vice Presi- dent of Network Development & Engagement Joe Tidwell added, "This partnership aligns per- fectly with our mission of enhancing healthcare access. We are thrilled to work alongside the Lou- isiana State Medical Society to extend our value- based payment models to independent prac- tices. Together, we can make a substantial impact on healthcare delivery in Louisiana." NewHIV Diagnoses in LA Drop by 11 Percent Over 5 Years The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) announced an 11% decline in new human immu- nodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnoses over the past five years. LDH reports a decrease in new HIV cases from 964 diagnosed with HIV in 2018 to 860 diagnosed in 2022. As of June 2023, the number of individ- uals living with HIV in Louisiana stands at 22,920. HIV spreads primarily through sexual activities, as well as through blood transfusions, shared syringes, and from parent to child during preg- nancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. It is crucial to note that HIV cannot be transmitted through casual contact like kissing, touching, or sharing food, dishes, or utensils. Moreover, the virus does not spread through saliva, sweat, tears, mosqui- toes, or contact with toilet seats. Reflecting on this achievement, Jimmy Gale, a program manager for the LDH Office of Pub- lic Health’s (OPH) STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program, shared his personal journey: "When I recall the fear that followed my HIV diagnosis at 24, I'm reminded of our remarkable progress. On World AIDS Day, I honor those who came before me, who showed me my true potential and helped me find my strength and my voice.” With access and adherence to antiretrovi- ral medication, individuals living with HIV can achieve an undetectable viral load, reducing the amount of HIV cells in their bodies to a very low level. This scientific phenomenon, known as Undetectable=Untransmittable (U=U), ensures that individuals with an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmit the virus to others. Peo- ple living with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load can expect to live as long as their peers who do not have HIV. In 2018, LDH worked with medical providers and community stakeholders across the state to develop Get Loud Louisiana, the state's collabor- ative plan to end the HIV epidemic. Key compo- nents of this plan include promoting HIV screen- ing as a part of routine healthcare, various public education efforts, and enhanced linkage to and retention in care programs for people diagnosed with HIV, supporting the achievement of their best possible health outcomes, including dura- ble viral suppression. For information on HIV prevention and services in Louisiana, visit louisianahealthhub.org. n